The Structural Relationships Between Temperament Dimensions of Personality and Psychological Symptoms of Somatic Symptom Disorder with the Mediation of Emotional Dysregulation

Abstract

Background and Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the structural relationships between temperament dimensions of personality and psychological symptoms of somatic symptom disorder with the mediation of emotional dysregulation.
 
Methods and Materials: For this purpose, 380 students from the University of Tabriz were selected using multi-stage cluster random sampling during the academic year 2021-2022. The variables were measured using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, the Somatic Complaint Questionnaire, the short form of the Symptom Checklist, and Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI).
 
Findings: Data analysis using structural equation modeling showed that novelty seeking, reward dependence, and persistence negatively and significantly explain the variations in psychological symptoms. Harm avoidance and emotional dysregulation positively and significantly explain the variations in psychological symptoms. Reward dependence and persistence negatively and significantly explain the variations in emotional dysregulation. Novelty seeking and reward dependence negatively, and harm avoidance positively, can explain the variations in psychological symptoms through emotional dysregulation.
 
Conclusion: The three temperament variables—novelty seeking, harm avoidance, and reward dependence—could explain the changes in somatic symptoms through the mediation of emotional dysregulation. These findings indicate that somatic symptom disorder is influenced by personality factors and that inefficiency in emotion regulation exacerbates this disorder. Additionally, these findings suggest that emotional dysregulation is a significant variable in the relationship between temperament dimensions and somatic symptoms.