Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz

Logo MUG-Forschungsportal

Gewählte Publikation:

SHR Neuro Krebs Kardio Lipid Stoffw Microb

Fuchshuber, J; Unterrainer, HF; Kapusta, ND; Blueml, V.
Mapping Childhood Trauma and Personality Organization: A Network Approach
PSYCHOANAL PSYCHOL. 2025; Doi: 10.1037/pap0000549
Web of Science FullText FullText_MUG

 

Führende Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz
Unterrainer Human-Friedrich
Altmetrics:

Dimensions Citations:
Plum Analytics:


Scite (citation analytics):

Abstract:
Significant research has been dedicated to the relation between childhood adversities and the development of personality structure. The present research aims to contribute to this exploration using a data-driven network approach. Specifically, the study psychometrically investigates the relationships between personality organization (PO) and childhood trauma (CT). A total sample of 1,110 participants from the general population (68% female) was analyzed in terms of personality organization (IPO-16) and childhood trauma (CTQ) within a pairwise Markov random fields model. The network was estimated using the EBICglasso algorithm. Regularized partial correlation edge weights, node centrality indices (estimated influence, strength, bridge strength), and predictability were examined. Significant correlations were observed between PO and CT across all subdomains (p < .001). The analysis of the regularized partial correlation network revealed a significant edge between primitive defense and emotional abuse, representing a bridge between PO and CT. This finding was supported by the high centrality indices of both emotional abuse and primitive defense. The findings suggest that the relationship between CT and PO is primarily mediated by the link between primitive defense mechanisms and experiences of emotional abuse in childhood. The implications of these psychometric results are discussed within the context of psychoanalytic theory and clinical practice.

Find related publications in this database (Keywords)
personality organization
childhood trauma
primitive defense mechanisms
emotional abuse
network analysis
© Med Uni Graz • Impressum