The mediator role of alexithymia and emotional schemas in the relationship between childhood traumas and somatization

Child abuse and neglect is a wordwide phenomenon. They cause physical, psychological, sexual and social harms for the individuals. The effects of childhood traumas are also felt during the adulthood, as well as they become the root causes of various psychological and physical problems. Childhood traumas play a significant role in the non-expression of emotions and the concept of alexithymia gains importance at this point. The study examines whether the alexithymia and emotional schemas have an intermediary role in the childhood traumas and somatization. The sample of the study composes of 349 literate participants between the age of 18-65. The questions regarding the socio-demografic characteristics of the participants are prepared by the researcher. The childhood traumas are measured via Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28), the alexithymia is measured via Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the somatic systems are measured via Symptom Interpretation Questionnaire (SIQ) and Symptom CheckList-90 (SCL-90-R) and the emotional schemas are determined by using Leahy Emotional Schema Scale (LESS). SPSS 25 program is used in analysing the data. The results of the analysis show that the childhood traumas and somatization are positively correlated. The correlation analysis conducted between dual variables show that there are positive correlations between childhood traumas and emotional schemas, and between somatization and alexithymia. It is also found that the alexithymia and emotional schemas play a partial mediator role in the relationship between the childhood traumas and somatization. There are numerous studies regarding childhood traumas and somatization. This study will contribute to the literature by taking into account the alexithymia and emotional schemas in the the relationship between the childhood traumas and somatization.