The relationship of adverse childhood events on automatic thoughts, intermediate beliefs, schemas, anxiety and depressive symptoms and quality of life in university students

Abstract

Objective: Aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the adverse childhood events (ACEs) over the schemas, dysfunctional attitudes, automatic thoughts, anxiety, depression severity and quality of life in the university student population without any Axis 1 and 2 psychopathology. Method: Individuals with Axis 1 and 2 psychopathology were excluded from the study by use of SCID-1 and SCID-2 assessment. Afterward, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS), Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ) and Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ) and Adverse Childhood Events Questionnaire (ACE-TR) were applied. Volunteers were divided into two groups according to the presence of adverse childhood events (ACEs) in the ACE-TR and stated as having no ACE and one or more ACEs. Results: The mean age of the participants was 21.29 ± 3.31. Also, 185 (84.5%) of the participants were female, 40 (18.7%) were smokers, 39 (17.8%) were drinking alcohol, and 65 (29.7%) had a low socioeconomic situation. Individuals with ACE-TR scores greater than 0 had significantly higher severity in the BDI, BAI, DAS (Perfectionistic attitudes, tentativeness, and total scores), YSQ (Impaired Autonomy, Disconnection / Rejection, Impaired Limits, Other - Directedness, Overvigilance / Inhibition), ATQ and SF-36 Energy / Vitality, Mental Health, Pain and Overall Health scores were statistically higher. Discussion: Even though the ACEs do not cause any Axis 1 or 2 psychopathology in our population; individuals with ACEs have more frequent negative automatic thoughts, higher levels of dysfunctional attitudes, and more severe inappropriate schemas when compared to individuals with no ACEs. The presence of ACEs negatively affect the quality of life and increases the severity of depression and anxiety. Whether or not ACEs cause psychopathology, the existence of the ACEs should be questioned and examined by mental health professionals.