Reciprocal mediation between alexithymia and post-traumatic growth as influencing factors of depression: a cross-sectional analysis in hospitalized older patients with chronic non-communicable diseases.
Xiaohui Wang, Jing Wen, Ying Wu, Ziyan Xiong, Li Cong
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Abstract
Background: Positive psychology suggests combining negative and positive emotions for research, which is beneficial for promoting mental health. Depression is frequently reported among older patients with chronic non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to analyze the status and influencing factors of depression in hospitalized older patients undergoing chronic non-communicable diseases and explore the relationships between alexithymia (negative emotion) and post-traumatic growth (positive emotion) on depression (negative emotion).
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey using simple random sampling of hospitalized older patients with chronic non-communicable diseases admitted to three tertiary hospitals in Changsha from November 2023 to February 2024. The data were collected by the questionnaire consisting of demographic characteristics, Self-rating Depression Scale, twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and Post-traumatic Growth Inventory. We then performed statistical analyses and constructed structural models.
Results: A total of 321 hospitalized geriatrics with NCDs were surveyed, of whom 77.88% were diagnosed with depression. Self-care ability and post-traumatic growth are protective factors against depression, while alexithymia is a risk factor that has been linked to higher levels of depressive symptoms. In addition, alexithymia mediated the relationship between post-traumatic growth and depression, and post-traumatic growth also played a mediating role between alexithymia and depression.
Conclusions: During hospitalization, the depression situation of older patients with chronic non-communicable diseases is very serious. Alexithymia and post-traumatic growth not only directly affect depression, but also play an intermediary role in indirectly affecting depression. Medical staff should enhance patients' emotional regulation and expression, promote post-traumatic recovery, and thereby improve their depressive psychology.
期刊介绍：
BMC Psychology is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers manuscripts on all aspects of psychology, human behavior and the mind, including developmental, clinical, cognitive, experimental, health and social psychology, as well as personality and individual differences. The journal welcomes quantitative and qualitative research methods, including animal studies.
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