KİŞİLİK ÖZELLİKLERİ VE PSİKOPATOLOJİK BELİRTİLER ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİLERİN DUYGULANIM DEĞERLEME MODELİ ÇERÇEVESİNDE İNCELENMESİ

Abstract

Psychological symptoms are important indicators of mental health that negatively affect individuals’ quality of life. Although the relationship between personality traits and these symptoms is well established, the underlying cognitive and emotional processes have not yet been fully clarified. Aim of this study is to examine the mediating roles of the affect valuation model and cognitive emotion regulation strategies in the relationship between personality traits and psychological symptoms. The sample consisted of 746 participants aged 18 to 65 (M = 40.17, SD = 12.60), including 451 females (60.5%) and 295 males (39.5%). Data were collected online using the Demographic Information Form, the Big Five Inventory, the Emotion Regulation Skills Scale, the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and the Brief Symptom Inventory. The findings indicated that neuroticism was positively associated with all types of psychological symptoms, whereas extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience were negatively associated. Actual-ideal affect discrepancy was positively related to all psychological symptoms. Additionally, participants reporting high levels of symptoms were reported significantly greater actual-ideal emotion discrepancies than participants reporting low levels of symptoms. Dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies showed strong positive associations with psychological symptoms, while functional strategies were also positively associated, contrary to expectations. Serial mediation analyses revealed that actual-ideal affect discrepancy and cognitive emotion regulation strategies had significant serial mediating effects for all personality traits. Full mediation was found for extraversion in the dysfunctional strategies model. It was observed that women scored higher on neuroticism, rumination, actual-ideal emotion discrepancy, and psychological symptom levels. Younger adults exhibited higher levels of psychological symptoms and affect discrepancy, whereas older adults reported greater use of functional strategies. The findings obtained from study were discussed within the context of literature; limitations of the research, significance of its results, suggestions for future studies, and its potential contributions to clinical practice were presented.