This study investigated the role of interpersonal problems, emotional contrast avoidance, and contrast avoidance of worry in the relationship of childhood trauma and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.
The study included 457 participants with a mean age of 31 with symptoms of GAD. The researchers used the CTQ, IIP-C, CAQ-W, CAQ-GE and GAD-7. The results indicated that contrast avoidance of worry/interpersonal problems had a significant effect on symptoms of GAD, but childhood trauma and emotional contrast avoidance had no significant effect on GAD. They also found that contrast avoidance of worry and interpersonal problems significantly mediated the relationship between childhood traumas and symptoms of GAD. In sum, people who have had trauma experiences in childhood may face difficulties in interpersonal relationships in the future. When they face unpleasant events triggering negative emotions, they will tend to worry to prolong and maintain a negative emotional state, therefore avoiding unexpected negative emotional shifts or contrast experience.
Shafiei, M., Rezaei, F., & Sadeghi, M. (2021). The role of childhood traumas, interpersonal problems, and contrast avoidance model in development of the generalized anxiety disorder: A structural equation modeling. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/10.1037/tra0001117
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