The mediating role of hopelessness in the relationship between childhood traumas and negative illness perception in patients diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder

The aim of this study is to examine the mediating role of hopelessness in the relationship between childhood traumas and negative illness perception in a sample of patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder. In addition; It is also aimed to examine the relationships between the variables of childhood trauma, hopelessness and negative illness perception and whether these variables differ according to various sociodemographic characteristics of the participants. The research was planned within the framework of the relational survey model and is a cross-sectional study. The sample of the study consists of 121 participants (65 women, 56 men) between the ages of 18 and 65, who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and are in remission. The Demographic Information Form, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Scale, Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and Brief Illness Perception Scale (KHAS) were used as data collection tools in the study. As a result of the analyses, positive significant relationships was found between childhood traumas and hopelessness (p<0.01), childhood traumas and negative illness perception (p<0.01) and also hopelessness and negative illness perception (p<0.01). According to the analysis results of the mediation model, it was concluded that hopelessness plays a partial mediating effect between childhood traumas and negative illness perception. The findings obtained from the research were discussed within the framework of the relevant literature and suggestions were made for future research.