The effect of traumatic experiences on self-esteem

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate effect of trauma on self-esteem and relationship between self-esteem and psychiatric symptoms, by comparing severity of trauma experienced by psychiatric patient group and healthy control group without psychiatric disease. Material and Methods: The study included 100 patients with depression, anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder and no psychotic disorder, and 100 healthy control groups, applying to Duzce University Faculty of Medicine Department of Psychiatry. Socio-demographic characteristics of the patient and control groups were recorded. The severity of trauma perception was evaluated with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Traumatic Experiences Checklist (TEC) for determining experienced trauma, Post-Traumatic Cognitive Inventory (PTCI) for determining cognitive status, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) for self-esteem, and Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90R) for determining psychological symptoms were used. Results: Both the self and parental education levels of patient group was lower than control group, while VAS was found higher. In terms of RSES, self-esteem, parental interest and relationship with father were found lower in the patient group than the control group, while sensitivity to criticism, depressive mood, dreaminess, psychosomatic symptoms, feeling threat in interpersonal relationships and psychological isolation were found high. Both TEC and PTCI scores and all symptoms in SCL-90R were higher in the patient group. Conclusion: In the patient group trauma scores were higher and self-esteem were lower than the control group. Trauma and low self-esteem caused to be higher psychiatric symptoms in the patient group. © 2019, Duzce University Medical School. All rights reserved.