The Mediating Role of Emotional Memory in Explaining the Causal Relationships Between Complex Trauma Experience and Anxiety Sensitivity with Psychological Well-Being in Students
Keywords:
Complex trauma, anxiety sensitivity, emotional memory, psychological well-being, structural equation modelingAbstract
Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of emotional memory in the causal relationship between complex trauma experience and anxiety sensitivity with psychological well-being in students.
Methodology: This descriptive-correlational study employed a structural equation modeling design. A total of 350 university students from Tehran participated through convenience sampling during the 2023–2024 academic year. Data were collected using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (2003), the 16-item Anxiety Sensitivity Index (2005), the 25-item Emotional Processing Scale (2007), and Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale (1988). Data were analyzed using AMOS 24 with the maximum likelihood estimation method.
Findings: Structural path analysis revealed that both complex trauma and anxiety sensitivity had significant negative direct effects on psychological well-being. Emotional memory significantly mediated these relationships. The indirect paths were also statistically significant, indicating that emotional memory modulated the negative impacts of trauma and anxiety sensitivity. The modified model showed acceptable goodness-of-fit indices, explaining 53% of the variance in psychological well-being among students.
Conclusion: Emotional memory plays a central mediating role in explaining how complex trauma and anxiety sensitivity influence psychological well-being. These findings underscore the importance of addressing maladaptive emotional memory through therapeutic interventions to enhance the psychological health of university students.
Downloads
References
Ahmadi, I., Bafandeh Qaramaleki, H., & Mahaki, M. (2022). The Role of Emotional Patterns in Predicting Irritable Bowel Syndrome with the Mediation of Anxiety Sensitivity. Quarterly Journal of Innovative Psychological Research, 17(68), 23-32. https://psychologyj.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_15334.html
Aliche, C. J. (2023). The mediating role of positive reappraisal and self-compassion on the relationship between mindfulness and posttraumatic growth in patients with cancer. South African Journal of Psychology, 53(1), 111-123. https://doi.org/10.1177/00812463221113445
Bakhshaie, J., Zvolensky, M. J., Allan, N. P., Vujanovic, A. A., & Schmidt, N. B. (2015). Differential Effects of Anxiety Sensitivity Components in the Relation Between Emotional Non-Acceptance and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms Among Trauma-Exposed Treatment-Seeking Smokers. Cognitive behaviour therapy, 44(3), 175-189. https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2015.1004191
Bolouk, M. G., Mikaeili, N., Basharpoor, S., & Bolouk, S. G. (2024). Exploration the Mediating Role of Adaptive and Maladaptive Emotion Regulation Strategies in the Relationship Between Anxiety Sensitivity, Neuroticism, Dysfunctional Attitudes Towards Sleep, and Sleep Quality Among Adolescents. Shenakht Journal of Psychology and Psychiatry, 103-117. https://doi.org/10.32598/shenakht.10.5.103
Chiu, H. T. S., Low, D. C. W., Chan, A. H. T., & Meiser-Stedman, R. (2024). Relationship between anxiety sensitivity and post-traumatic stress symptoms in trauma-exposed adults: a meta-analysis. Journal of anxiety disorders. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2024.102857
Conway, C. C., Naragon-Gainey, K., & Harris, M. T. (2020). The Structure of Distress Tolerance and Neighboring Emotion Regulation Abilities. Assessment, 28(4), 1050-1064. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191120954914
Dizaj Khalili, M., Makvand Hosseini, S., & Sabahi, P. (2023). Effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Anxiety Sensitivity in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis [Research Article]. Jundishapur J Chronic Dis Care, 12(1), e132672. https://doi.org/10.5812/jjcdc-132672
Farris, S. G., Vujanovic, A. A., Hogan, J., Schmidt, N. B., & Zvolensky, M. J. (2014). Main and Interactive Effects of Anxiety Sensitivity and Physical Distress Intolerance With Regard to PTSD Symptoms Among Trauma-Exposed Smokers. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 15(3), 254-270. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2013.834862
Gharib Bolouk, M., Mikaeili, N., Basharpoor, S., & Gharib Bolouk, S. (2023). Exploration the mediating role of adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies in the relationship between anxiety sensitivity, neuroticism, dysfunctional attitudes towards sleep, and sleep quality among adolescents [Research]. Shenakht Journal of Psychology and Psychiatry, 10(5), 103-117. https://doi.org/10.32598/shenakht.10.5.103
Hajishabani, R., Abdi, Reza. (2020). The role of experiential avoidance, mindfulness and anxiety sensitivity as transdiagnostic factors in prediction of emotional disorder. Clinical Psychology and Personality, 17(1), 203-212. https://doi.org/10.22070/cpap.2020.2897
Heydari, B. (2024). The mediating role of psychological well-being in the relationship between psychological capital and academic burnout among psychology students at Islamic Azad Universities in Tehran. Sociology of Education, 10(2), 398-408. https://www.iase-jrn.ir/article_718771.html?lang=en
McDermott, M. J., Tull, M. T., Gratz, K. L., Daughters, S. B., & Lejuez, C. W. (2009). The role of anxiety sensitivity and difficulties in emotion regulation in posttraumatic stress disorder among crack/cocaine dependent patients in residential substance abuse treatment. Journal of anxiety disorders, 23(5), 591-599. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2009.01.006
Ogińska-Bulik, N., & Michalska, P. (2020). The Relationship Between Emotional Processing Deficits and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Among Breast Cancer Patients: The Mediating Role of Rumination. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 27(1), 11-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-019-09606-6
Ranney, R. M., Berenz, E., Rappaport, L. M., Amstadter, A., Dick, D., & Group, S. f. S. W. (2022). Anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance predict changes in internalizing symptoms in individuals exposed to interpersonal trauma. Cognitive therapy and research, 46(1), 217-231. https://doi.org/s10608-021-10234-4
Rostami, M., & Mehdiabadi, P. (2024). Qualitative Examination of the Relationship Between Childhood Trauma, Dissociative Identity Disorder, and Somatic Symptoms. JPPR, 2(4), 4-11. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.jppr.2.4.2
Safikhani, F. (2022). The effectiveness of grammatical mental imagery with cognitive processing on self-efficacy, emotional processing and spirituality in mothers of students with autism spectrum disorder. International Journal of Education and Cognitive Sciences, 3(2), 12-22. https://doi.org/10.22034/injoeas.2022.160609
Sara Aman Alah Khani, G., Javidi, H., & Baghooli, H. (2024). Modeling Anxiety Sensitivity Based on Early Maladaptive Schemas and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies With the Mediating Role of Parenting Styles. Jayps, 5(6), 30-40. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.jayps.5.6.4
Serafini, G., Gonda, X., Pompili, M., Rihmer, Z., Amore, M., & Engel-Yeger, B. (2016). The relationship between sensory processing patterns, alexithymia, traumatic childhood experiences, and quality of life among patients with unipolar and bipolar disorders. Child abuse & neglect, 62, 39-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2016.09.013
Shams, S. (2021). Predicting Coronavirus Anxiety Based on Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies, Anxiety Sensitivity, and Psychological Hardiness in Nurses [Applicable]. Quarterly Journal of Nersing Management, 10(2), 25-36. http://ijnv.ir/article-1-832-en.html
Shokrolahi, M. S., Hashem, S. E., Mehrabizadeh Honarmand, M., Zargar, Y., & Naaimi, A. (2023). Effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy on anxiety sensitivity and pain catastrophizing in patients with chronic pain and alexithymia. ijpn, 11(3), 46-56.
Shokrollahi, M., Hashemi, S. E., Mehrabizadeh Honarmand, M., Zargar, Y., & Naami, A. (2021). Comparison of the effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy and Cognitive Analytic Therapy on anxiety sensitivity, pain catastrophizing, experiential avoidance, and cognitive emotion regulation in patients with chronic pain and alexithymia. Behavioral Sciences Research, 4(66), 739-752. https://doi.org/10.52547/rbs.19.4.739
Siah, P. C., Murugan, L., Loo, L. Q., Tan, M. T., & Tan, S. M. (2022). Sense of Coherence and Academic Procrastination: Coping Strategies as Mediators. Journal of Institutional Research South East Asia, 20(2). https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A11%3A7801979/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Ascholar&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A160834632&crl=c&link_origin=www.google.com
Strauss, A. Y., Kivity, Y., & Huppert, J. D. (2019). Emotion Regulation Strategies in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Panic Disorder. Behavior therapy, 50(3), 659-671. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2018.10.005
Wheaton, M. G., Mahaffey, B., Timpano, K. R., Berman, N. C., & Abramowitz, J. S. (2012). The relationship between anxiety sensitivity and obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 43(3), 891-896. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005791612000109
Zahradnik, M., Stewart, S. H., Marshall, G. N., Schell, T. L., & Jaycox, L. H. (2009). Anxiety Sensitivity and Aspects of Alexithymia Are Independently and Uniquely Associated With Posttraumatic Distress. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 22(2), 131-138. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20397
Downloads
Published
Submitted
Revised
Accepted
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 مژگان شمسالدینی, سیمین بشر دوست, مالک میرهاشمی (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
