The Relationship Between Traumatic Stress Symptoms and Basic Psychological Needs, Irrational Beliefs, and Mood in a Non-Clinical Population

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the relationship between Trauma Stress Symptoms (TSS) and basic psychological needs, irrational beliefs, and mood in the non-clinical population. A total of 212 participants, 127 with TSS symptoms and 85 without TSS symptoms, in the 18-52 age range were included in the study. Demographic Information Form, Impact of Event Scale- Revised (IES-R), Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale (TPIO), Shortened General Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (GTIO-SF), and Positive and Negative Affect Meause (PANAS) were used as data collection tools. In the Independent Sample T Test analysis performed between groups with and without TSS symptoms; compared to the participants who did not show PTS symptoms, the total score of GTIO-SF and this scale's "irrational beliefs", "devaluation of others", "expectation ofjustice", "seeking comfort", "irrational beliefs of achievement", "irrational beliefs of approval", "selfd-evaluation " sub-dimensions, PANAS total score and its sub-dimension "negative mood" sub-dimension were significantly higher; It was determined that PTS symptoms and irrational thoughts and negative mood were positively and significantly correlated with the basic psychological needs scale scores, and negatively and significantly. Multiple linear regression analysis results; it was determined that the presence of trauma predicted the total score of GTIO-SF and its sub-dimension "comfort seeking" positively in the group with PTS symptoms, and "need for autonomy", which was the sub-dimension of the TPIO scale, negatively, at a level of 38%. This study showed that PTS symptoms and individuals' irrational thoughts and negative mood are positively related while basic psychological needs are negatively related, and the presence of PTS symptoms plays a predictive role in developing irrational beliefs and negative affect, and in meeting the need for autonomy. The findings obtained from the research were discussed in the light of the literature, limitations and suggestions for future research were presented.