The Occurrence of and Distress From Pathogenic Beliefs: Examining Pathways From Childhood Adversity to Psychopathology

IF 2.7 3区心理学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

Clinical psychology & psychotherapy Pub Date : 2025-10-20 DOI:10.1002/cpp.70163

George Silberschatz, Xiaochen Luo, James McCollum, David Kealy

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Abstract

Introduction

Pathogenic beliefs are dysfunctional beliefs that impede the pursuit of adaptive goals, which have been shown as key pathways between early childhood trauma and psychopathology. This study examined whether the occurrence of pathogenic beliefs and the distress from having pathogenic beliefs, which were assessed through the latest version of the pathogenic belief scale (PBS-21) separately, would both mediate the childhood adversity-outcome relationship, and whether reactivity of pathogenic beliefs (standardized difference between distress and occurrence) moderates them.

Methods

A total of 390 adult participants with prior psychotherapy experience were recruited from the United Kingdom online. Participants completed self-report measures assessing perceived adverse parenting, psychopathology (depression, anxiety, general distress and interpersonal problems) and pathogenic beliefs (occurrence, distress and reactivity).

Results

Both occurrence and distress of pathogenic beliefs fully mediated the relationship between adverse parenting and depressive/anxiety symptoms and general distress, and partially mediated interpersonal problems. Reactivity significantly moderated the pathway from adverse parenting to pathogenetic beliefs. Individuals who reported more adverse parenting and were categorized as having higher reactivity were more likely to develop pathogenic beliefs and experience greater psychological distress.

Discussion

These findings align with prior research showing that pathogenic beliefs are key in the association between childhood adversity and psychopathology. The study supports the validity of the PBS-21 and demonstrates the value of assessing the occurrence of pathogenic beliefs and the distress from having these beliefs separately. Reactivity to pathogenic beliefs may serve as a clinically meaningful marker for identifying individuals with resilience and tailoring interventions accordingly.

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致病信念的发生和痛苦：从童年逆境到精神病理的途径研究

致病性信念是阻碍适应性目标追求的功能失调信念，是幼儿创伤与精神病理之间的关键途径。本研究通过最新版的致病信念量表（PBS-21）分别评估致病信念的发生和因拥有致病信念而产生的痛苦，考察了致病信念的反应性（痛苦与发生的标准化差异）是否会调节童年逆境与结果的关系。方法从英国在线招募390名有心理治疗经验的成人受试者。参与者完成了自我报告测量，评估感知到的不良教养、精神病理（抑郁、焦虑、一般痛苦和人际关系问题）和致病信念（发生、痛苦和反应）。结果致病信念的发生和困扰完全介导了不良教养与抑郁/焦虑症状和一般困扰的关系，部分介导了人际关系问题。反应性显著调节了从不良教养到致病信念的途径。那些被归类为具有较高反应性的不良父母的个体更有可能产生致病信念，并经历更大的心理困扰。这些发现与先前的研究一致，表明致病信念是童年逆境和精神病理之间联系的关键。本研究支持PBS-21的有效性，并证明了单独评估致病信念发生和拥有这些信念的痛苦的价值。对致病信念的反应性可以作为临床有意义的标志，用于识别具有适应力的个体并相应地调整干预措施。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Clinical psychology & psychotherapy PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

6.30

自引率

5.60%

发文量

106

期刊介绍： Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy aims to keep clinical psychologists and psychotherapists up to date with new developments in their fields. The Journal will provide an integrative impetus both between theory and practice and between different orientations within clinical psychology and psychotherapy. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy will be a forum in which practitioners can present their wealth of expertise and innovations in order to make these available to a wider audience. Equally, the Journal will contain reports from researchers who want to address a larger clinical audience with clinically relevant issues and clinically valid research.