The impact of adolescent profiles of posttraumatic stress, emotion regulation, and disorganized attachment on posttraumatic growth and psychiatric symptoms: Academic stress and egocentrism as covariates.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to examine the profile patterns of co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cognitive emotion regulation (CER), and disorganized attachment in traumatized adolescents. It also aimed to examine whether these adolescents with different profiles would differ in posttraumatic growth (PTG) and comorbid psychiatric symptoms after controlling for academic stress and egocentrism. METHOD: Nine hundred and forty-nine (N = 949) adolescents were recruited from two secondary schools in China. They completed measures on PTSD, comorbid psychiatric symptoms, PTG, CER, disorganized attachment, and covariates of egocentrism and academic stress. RESULTS: Latent profile analysis identified a four-class model as the optimal solution: low trauma group (Class 1), adaptive copers (Class 2), moderate trauma group (Class 3), and high trauma group (Class 4). After controlling for demographics and levels of egocentrism and academic stress, Class 4 had more severe comorbid psychiatric symptoms than the other three classes. Class 3 had higher levels of comorbid psychiatric symptoms than Class 2 and Class 1, while these latter two were comparable in comorbid psychiatric symptoms. Conversely, Class 4 students had lower levels of PTG than individuals in the other three classes. Class 3 had similar levels of PTG to Class 1, and these two classes reported lower levels of PTG than Class 2. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese adolescents may experience both negative and positive changes after stressful events. The extent of these psychological outcomes could vary depending on the adolescents' previous trauma experiences, emotion regulation, and attachment qualities. Implications for clinical practice were discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Comparison between emerging adults and adults in terms of contamination fear, post-COVID-19 PTSD and psychiatric comorbidity.

The present study compared Chinese emerging adults and adults regarding the association between contamination fear, posttraumatic stress disorder post-COVID-19 and psychiatric comorbidity after controlling for demographic and trauma exposure variables. 1089 Chinese civilians (M = 382; F = 707) with a mean age of 26 years (M = 26.36, SD = 8.58) were recruited from different provinces in China via an online survey posted on mainstream Chinese social networking platforms. They completed a demographic page with questions on trauma exposure, the Vancouver Obsessional Compulsive Inventory, the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 and the General Health Questionnaire-28. Results showed that 12.7%, 68.7% and 18.6% met criteria for full, partial and no PTSD, respectively. Emerging adults reported significantly lower levels of symptoms of re-experiencing, avoidance, somatic problems, anxiety and fear of contamination than adults. In both emerging adults and adults, contamination fear was correlated with PTSD and psychiatric comorbidity. High educational attainment was significantly correlated with psychiatric comorbidity in emerging adults, but with PTSD in adults. Length of quarantine was correlated with psychiatric comorbidity only in adults. In conclusion, both emerging adults and adults developed varying levels of contamination fear, posttraumatic stress and general psychological symptoms following the outbreak of COVID-19. Emerging adults were more resilient than adults in coping with distress.

The impact of anger and self-concealment on post-traumatic stress and psychiatric comorbid symptoms in Chinese prisoners: A longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Research reported prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among prisoners varies between countries, with most studies based on Western samples. The trajectory of symptoms has also been controversial. Trauma can affect prisoners' emotions and their emotional regulation tends to be maladaptive. AIMS: To examine changes in PTSD and psychiatric comorbidity among prisoners in China over time and to determine whether anger and self-concealment predicts later distress. METHOD: In a longitudinal, prospective study, sentenced men in one prison in China were asked to complete a demographic page and several self-rating scales: the Post-traumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale, the General Health Questionnaire-28, the Clinical Anger Scale and the Self-Concealment Scale at baseline and at 6 and 12 months after the initial assessment. RESULTS: More than half of the 496 participating men were diagnosed with PTSD. For those completing the scales at each evaluation, PTSD-DS scores were significantly lower at baseline than at the 6-month and 1-year assessments. No significant differences were found between the two follow-up scores. There was no significant difference in psychiatric comorbidity between the three phases. At the cross-sectional level, after controlling for age and education level, PTSD, anger and self-concealment were associated with psychiatric comorbidity. At the prospective level, anger predicted PTSD 6 months and 1 year later. Self-concealment predicted psychiatric comorbidity over time. CONCLUSIONS: Among these prisoners the prevalence of chronic PTSD was far higher than in general population estimates. Early identification of aspects of coping styles is likely to help predict disorder trajectory and inform interventions. Early signs of anger were indicative of the chronic severity of trauma reactions, while the intention to hide distress was related to other later mental health problems.

Network analysis on the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder, psychiatric co-morbidity and posttraumatic growth among Chinese adolescents.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychiatric co-morbidity and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among Chinese adolescents using network analysis. METHODS: 867 Chinese adolescents (male = 424, female = 443) were recruited from three secondary schools. They completed the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, and the General Health Questionnaire-28. RESULTS: Domains of each construct mainly clustered within their respective communities with several bridging edges identified. The prominent roles of bridging nodes and edges (positive and negative) were highlighted. Key bridging nodes were negative alterations in cognitions and mood for PTSD, anxiety and insomnia for psychiatric co-morbidity and appreciation of life for PTG. LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional nature of the present study may preclude the identification of real causal relationships between nodes. CONCLUSIONS: Following a trauma, adolescents displayed posttraumatic stress along with general psychological disorder symptoms. These distress reactions could affect the way they appreciated life and their motivation to seek future life possibilities. Findings from the current study may provide some clue for the facilitation of posttraumatic growth among clinical patients.

Clients' experience of LGBQ affirmative and nonaffirmative practice in China: An interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBQ) affirmative therapy originated from an individualistic culture that emphasizes autonomy and personal independence, but it has become more commonly practiced in Mainland China. Given the influence of collectivistic culture, where Chinese people value interpersonal relationship and harmony more than personal interest, it is unclear whether Chinese sexual minority clients have different expectations and experiences of LGBQ affirmative practice. The purpose of this study is to explore Chinese LGBQ clients' perceived characteristics and impacts of LGBQ affirmative and nonaffirmative practice. A sample of 12 Chinese LGBQ individuals aged 20-35 were recruited to complete an in-depth semistructured interview. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, two superordinate and nine subordinate themes emerged. Findings from the subordinate themes suggest that counselors working with Chinese LGBQ clients should demonstrate calm assurance rather than being effusive when communicating their affirming attitude, enrich their LGBQ-related knowledge and improve their capacity to provide guidance, and use LGBQ affirmative skills flexibly based on clients' sexual identity development and presenting problems. In addition, LGBQ affirmative practice might be a promising approach to facilitate the counseling process for Chinese LGBQ clients. Implications for these findings are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

The subjective experience of non-suicidal self-injury among female Chinese university students.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the subjective experience of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among female Chinese university students in Hong Kong. DESIGN: Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used. METHODS: Seven female students participated in the study, two engaged in biting and scratching, and three in cutting. RESULTS: The majority of them indicated negative attitudes towards NSSI and saw no particular meaning attached to it. However, they all persisted with their behaviours, which suggested that they were unable to stop. Students found themselves in a paradoxical situation whereby although they saw no real benefit of NSSI, they still engaged in it to cope with distress. Feelings characterised by this distress were about entrapment and issues with academia, intimacy, loneliness, insecurity, negative self-worth, regulating distressing emotions, increasing positive physical sensations, healing oneself, and feeling alive. CONCLUSIONS: The experience of hurting themselves persistently for these female students symbolised their struggle with academic or relationship difficulties, self-acceptance, emotional regulation and survival without self-injury.

The Association Between Trauma Centrality and Posttraumatic Stress Among Syrian Refugees: The Impact of Cognitive Distortions and Trauma-Coping Self-Efficacy.

While research suggests that the war in Syria has led to a drastic re-evaluation of oneself and elevated psychiatric symptoms among Syrian refugees, little is known whether these psychological reactions might be influenced by maladaptive beliefs about oneself and the world and their ability to cope with the effect of the trauma. This study aimed to provide further evidence on the association between trauma centrality, posttraumatic stress, and psychiatric comorbidity, and examine whether cognitive distortions and trauma-coping self-efficacy would mediate the impact of trauma centrality on distress among Syrian refugees residing in Sweden. Four-hundred seventy-five Syrian refugees completed a demographic page, the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire-28, Centrality of Event Scale, Cognitive Distortion Scales, and trauma-coping self-efficacy. Results showed that trauma centrality was significantly correlated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychiatric comorbidity after adjusting the effects of trauma exposure characteristics. Cognitive distortions mediated the impact of trauma centrality on the two distress outcomes; trauma-coping self-efficacy did not but was negatively correlated with outcomes. To conclude, the war in Syria changed self-perception, outlook on life, and identity among Syrian refugees. These changes were related to increased psychological symptoms especially for those who had distorted beliefs about themselves and the world. Refugees' belief in the lack of ability to cope with the effect of the trauma impacted psychological distress independently of changes in self-perception.

The Impact of Death Anxiety, Meaning and Coping on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Psychiatric Co-Morbidity Among Iraqi Civilians Exposed to a Car Bomb Attack A Latent Class Analysis.

Much has been documented that the experience of a bombing is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder and psychiatric co-morbidity. Whether the co-existing relationship between death anxiety, meaning in life and coping styles would influence the aforementioned association is unknown. The present study aimed to identify latent classes of victims with different levels of death anxiety, meaning in life and coping styles, and to examine whether the severity of PTSD and co-morbid psychiatric symptoms differed between classes. One hundred and eighty-five victims who had experienced the first car bombing completed a demographic page, the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnosis Scale, General Health Questionnaire-28, Multidimensional Fear of Death Scale, Meaning in Life Questionnaire and Coping Responses Inventory. The results showed that 82% and 18% of the victims met the criteria for PTSD and no-PTSD, respectively. Four classes of victims were identified: Class 1 victims were approach copers with low levels of death anxiety and meaning. Class 2 victims were minimal copers with high levels of death anxiety and meaning. Class 3 victims were approach copers with a high level of death anxiety and meaning. Class 4 victims were avoidance copers with high levels of death anxiety. Individuals in Class 1 reported significantly lower levels of PTSD and psychiatric co-morbidity than the other three classes. Class 3 victims also reported significantly lower levels of psychiatric co-morbidity than Class 2 victims. To conclude, victims exposed to a car bombing were likely to exhibit posttraumatic stress symptoms in addition to other psychological symptoms. The severity of these symptoms tended to be lower among those who had little fear of death, did not search for meaning in life and approached their distress proactively.

The Impact of Child Abuse and Dissociation on Psychiatric Comorbidity and Self-Concealment Among Prisoners in China.

Child abuse is a common experience among prisoners in China and associated with elevated psychiatric comorbidity. However, the association between child abuse profiles and dissociation is unclear. The extent to which the relationship between these profiles and dissociation might influence psychiatric comorbidity and self-concealment is also unclear. This study examined the impact of this relationship on the preceding outcomes among prisoners in China using Latent Class Analysis. Four hundred and ninety-six male prisoners from China completed questionnaires measuring child abuse, dissociation, self-concealment, and psychiatric comorbidity. A three-class solution was achieved: Class 1 (neglected with moderate dissociation) prisoners had a minimal level of abuse, the highest level of neglect experience, and a medium level of dissociation; Class 2 (low neglect with low dissociation) prisoners also had a minimal level of abuse but lower levels of neglect experience and dissociation; Class 3 (abused and neglected with high dissociation) prisoners had high levels of child abuse, neglect, and dissociation. Controlling for age, Class 3 reported significantly higher psychiatric comorbidity and self-concealment than the other two classes. Class 1 was more depressed than Class 2; Class 2 was more likely to engage in self-concealment than Class 1. To conclude, the kinds of childhood maltreatment experienced by prisoners and their readiness to detach from distressing emotions can influence the severity of current distress symptoms and the tendency to conceal things about themselves.

Reciprocal/Authoritarian Filial Piety and Mental Well-Being in the Chinese LGB Population: The Roles of LGB-Specific and General Interpersonal Factors.

Although filial piety is considered as a salient value in the Chinese culture, studies on the mental well-being of Chinese lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals rarely take filial piety into account or examine it in relation to other variables to clarify the mechanism between filial piety and mental well-being. A total of 1453 LGB participants from 30 provinces and regions in Mainland China completed the online survey. They provided demographic information and completed measures of filial piety, a general interpersonal factor (i.e., perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness), an LGB-specific interpersonal factor (i.e., perceived parental support for sexual orientation), and mental well-being. Structural equation modelling results indicated that higher reciprocal filial piety was directly, and indirectly through lower thwarted belongingness, associated with better mental well-being. Lower authoritarian filial piety was indirectly associated with better mental well-being through higher perceived parental support for sexual orientation and lower thwarted belongingness. In addition, reciprocal filial piety had a stronger effect on perceived parental support for sexual orientation and perceived burdensomeness among lesbians and bisexual women than gay and bisexual men. These findings suggest that reciprocal filial piety is a protective factor, whereas authoritarian filial piety is a risk factor, for the mental well-being of Chinese LGB persons. Moreover, perceived parental support for sexual orientation and thwarted belongingness might be the mechanisms underlying the effect of reciprocal/authoritarian filial piety on mental well-being. Implications of findings for practice and research are discussed.

Post-Traumatic Distress and Burnout Among Chinese School Teachers: The Mediating Role of Forgiveness.

PURPOSE: Teachers' mental health is concerning due to high stress at work. Its association with job-related stressors has been well-documented. Little is known; however, about how traumatic life events and trauma reactions might contribute to their psychological distress. This paper is to explore whether Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following past traumatic event would predict burnout and psychiatric co-morbidity among Chinese k-12 school teachers and whether this prediction would be mediated by forgiveness after controlling for work-related factors. METHODS: Two hundred and seventy-nine Chinese teachers (F = 223, M = 56) from primary and secondary schools completed demographic information, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS), General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educator's Survey (MBI-ES), and a series of measures assessing work-related factors. RESULTS: Structured equation modeling (SEM) showed that after controlling for work-related factors, PTSD following past trauma was positively associated with burnout and general psychological problems but negatively associated with levels of forgiveness. Forgiveness carried the impact of PTSD onto burnout rather than general psychological distress. CONCLUSION: To conclude, regardless of the level of stress experienced from working in school, primary and secondary teachers with PTSD from past trauma found it more difficult forgiving which in turn could affect their levels of burnout.

Social support and posttraumatic stress disorder: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies.

Social support has long been associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but there is no consistent evidence on the strength and direction of this relationship. Whereas the social causation model claims that social support buffers against PTSD, the social selection model states that PTSD reduces social support resources. As the first meta-analysis of the prospective relationships between social support and PTSD, this study synthesized the available longitudinal data (75 samples including 32,402 participants) on these two constructs with a random-effects model. In total, three hundred and fifty-five effect sizes (including cross-sectional, prospective and cross-lagged coefficients) were included in the meta-analysis. With prior levels of the relevant outcomes controlled for, results showed that social support and PTSD reciprocally predicted each other over time with similar effect sizes: Social support predicted PTSD with ß = -0.10; PTSD predicted social support with ß = -0.09. Moderator analyses suggested that the effects held across most sample characteristics and research designs except for several moderators (gender, time lag, publication year, source of support). These findings provided strong evidence for both the social causation and social selection models, suggesting that the link between social support and PTSD is symmetrically reciprocal and robust.

The relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder, trauma centrality, interpersonal sensitivity and psychiatric co-morbidity among students in Kazakhstan: a Latent Class Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Trauma can lead to trauma centrality and affect levels of interpersonal sensitivity and psychiatric co-morbidity. Whether a coexisting relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma centrality can influence levels of interpersonal sensitivity and psychiatric co-morbidity among university students from Kazakhstan is unknown. AIM: To investigate the impact of the aforementioned co-existing relationship on interpersonal sensitivity and psychiatric co-morbidity among Kazakh university students. METHODS: 597 students (F = 428, M = 169) completed questionnaires measuring PTSD, psychiatric co-morbidity, interpersonal sensitivity, and trauma centrality. RESULTS: 28%, 32% and 40% met the criteria for full, partial and no-PTSD, respectively. Latent Class Analysis revealed a three-class solution: Class 1 (the altered-self group) with a low level of PTSD but a high level of trauma centrality, Class 2 (the traumatized-self group) with high levels of PTSD and trauma centrality and Class 3 (the low symptom group) with low levels of PTSD and trauma centrality. There were significant differences in the levels of interpersonal sensitivity and psychiatric co-morbidity across three classes. CONCLUSION: There are individual differences in the display of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and trauma centrality. These differences can influence interaction with others and psychological distress.

Posttraumatic stress disorder and psychiatric co-morbidity among Syrian refugees: the role of trauma exposure, trauma centrality, self-efficacy and emotional suppression.

BACKGROUND: The devastation of the Syrian war can lead to a drastic re-evaluation of oneself and alteration in self-capacities. Yet, little is known regarding its impact on these domains among Syrian refugees. AIMS: To investigate the inter-relationship between trauma characteristics, trauma centrality, self-efficacy, emotional suppression, PTSD and psychiatric co-morbidity among Syrian refugees. METHODS: 1197 refugees from Turkey and Sweden completed the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire-28, Centrality of Event Scale, Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale and Courtauld Emotional Control Scale. RESULTS: Using the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD from the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, 43% met the criteria. The PTSD group reported significantly higher levels of trauma characteristics, trauma centrality and psychiatric co-morbidity but a lower level of self-efficacy than the non-PTSD group. Trauma characteristics were positively associated with trauma centrality; trauma centrality was negatively correlated with self-efficacy. Contrary to hypothesis, self-efficacy was positively correlated with emotional suppression which was positively correlated with psychiatric co-morbidity but not PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: The experience of war can lead to the emergence of PTSD among Syrian refugees. Exposure to war can alter self-perception, belief of personal mastery over one's future and the way emotion is expressed, all of which can have specific effects on general psychological symptoms.

The effects of lesbian, gay, and bisexual experiences and internal beliefs on lesbian, gay, and bisexual affirmative counselor competence among Chinese counselors.

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) affirmative counselor competence is important for counselors to work effectively with sexual minority clients, but the level of competence is unclear among counselors in China, given the more conservative sociocultural climate. To understand the factors that contribute to Chinese counselors' LGB affirmative counselor competence, this study examined how situational (e.g., LGB experiences) and cognitive factors (e.g., internal beliefs) contribute to such competence in light of cultural learning theory. A total of 672 counselors (79.40% female; Mage = 36.33 years, SD = 7.87) from Mainland China completed an online survey. They provided information about demographics and LGB experiences (i.e., hours of LGB training, number of LGB clients, and number of LGB friends) and completed the Essentialist Beliefs Scale, Social Dominance Orientation Scale, and Sexual Orientation Counselor Competency Scale (SOCCS). Structural equation modeling results indicated that number of LGB friends was positively associated with SOCCS-Attitude. Number of LGB clients had the greatest effect on SOCCS-Skill, followed by hours of LGB training and number of LGB friends. Lower discreteness belief, higher immutability belief, and lower social dominance orientation were associated with higher level of SOCCS-Attitude. Higher universality belief was associated with higher levels of SOCCS-Knowledge and Skill. Interestingly, more hours of LGB training were not associated with higher levels of SOCCS-Attitude and Knowledge. In addition, counselors' gender or sexual orientation did not moderate the effects of LGB experiences and internal beliefs on LGB affirmative counselor competence. The implications for these findings are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

The Interrelationship Between Child Abuse, Emotional Processing Difficulties, Alexithymia And Psychological Symptoms Among Chinese Adolescents.

This study examined the interrelationship between child abuse, emotional processing difficulties, alexithymia, and psychological symptoms with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms from past traumas adjusted among Chinese adolescents. Eight hundred adolescents completed questionnaires measuring the preceding psychological constructs. After controlling for PTSD from past trauma, structural equation modeling showed that child abuse correlated with emotional processing difficulty which correlated with alexithymia. In turn, alexithymia correlated with psychological symptom severity. To conclude, child abuse can affect psychological health among Chinese adolescents. This relationship, however, is influenced by the degree to which processing distressing emotions and getting in touch with internal feelings is avoided.

The Impact of Past Trauma on Psychological Distress: The Roles of Defense Mechanisms and Alexithymia.

OBJECTIVES: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms following past trauma could lead to psychological distress. Little is known, however, about the roles of defense mechanisms and alexithymia may play in the process. The current study aimed to examine the potential impact of alexithymia and defense mechanisms on the relationship between past trauma and distress among Chinese university students. METHOD: 455 university students completed a set of questionnaires: PTSD Checklists for DSM-5, Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Defense Style Questionnaire, and General Health Questionnaire-28. RESULTS: PTSD following past trauma was associated with increased psychological distress. Alexithymia and defenses (especially immature defense) mediated the path between PTSD and psychological co-morbidities. CONCLUSION: Following past trauma, people developed PTSD and other psychological symptoms. The severity of these distress symptoms was influenced by the way they defended themselves psychologically, and their ability to identify, express, and process distressing emotions.

The relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder, trauma centrality, posttraumatic growth and psychiatric co-morbidity among Chinese adolescents.

This study examined the inter-relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from past trauma, psychiatric co-morbidity, trauma centrality and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among Chinese adolescents. Nine hundred and forty-eight Chinese adolescents (M = 462, F = 486) were recruited from two secondary schools. They completed the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5, the Centrality of Events Scale, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the General Health Questionnaire-28, and the Educational Stress Scale for Adolescents. After controlling for demographic variables and levels of academic stress, structural equation modeling showed that PTSD was positively associated with trauma centrality and psychiatric co-morbidity but negatively associated with posttraumatic growth. Trauma centrality mediated the impacts of PTSD on posttraumatic growth and psychiatric co-morbidity. To conclude, PTSD from past trauma could impact adolescents' ways of perceiving positive aspects of their trauma and psychological well-being. Such impact, however, was influenced by the changes in their self-concept.

Gender Differences in Child Abuse, Emotional Processing Difficulties, Alexithymia, Psychological Symptoms and Behavioural Problems among Chinese Adolescents.

Child abuse among adolescents in China has been documented and can lead to a whole range of psychological and behavioural problems. This study examined whether male and female adolescents would differ in level of child abuse, emotional processing difficulties, alexithymia, psychological symptoms and behavioural problems, and whether the pattern of association between these variables would vary depending on gender. Eight hundred adolescents were recruited from China and completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Emotional Processing Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, General Health Questionnaire, and Prediction Test of Problem Children. Male adolescents reported significantly higher levels of emotional and physical neglect, and external oriented thinking style than female adolescents. Females reported significantly more anxiety symptoms and problems with learning than males. For males, child abuse was associated with emotional processing difficulties which were associated with alexithymia. In turn, alexithymia was associated with both psychological and behavioural problems. For females, the same association was established for predicting behavioural problems but not psychological symptoms. Male and female adolescents differed in level of child abuse, alexithymia, psychological symptoms and behavioural problems. These psychological constructs were connected in a specific pattern to trigger psychological and behavioural problems for male adolescents whereas for females, different patterns were involved.