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Relationship of somatisation to self construal, neuroticism and emotional distress in Singapore
Author
Yap, Evelyn Mee Lah
Supervisor
Lee, Boon Ooi
Abstract
Past research has found associations among somatisation, self construal, neuroticism and emotional distress. For example, people orientating towards interdependent self-construal are more likely than people orientating towards independent self-construal to report somatic symptoms when experiencing distress (i.e., somatization). People with high levels of neuroticism are more likely than those with low levels of neuroticism to report emotional distress. However, to our best knowledge, no studies have looked into the relations of somatisation with these three aspects concurrently. The objective of this research is to investigate the relationship between somatisation with self construal, neuroticism and emotional distress.
Some 274 respondents were randomly selected to fill in a survey questionnaire, which contained demographic questions on gender, age, nationality, ethnicity, religion, educational level, marital status and occupation as well as the Self Construal Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, NEO Five-Factor Personality Inventory and Pennebaker.
The present study found that people with interdependent self construal did not necessarily report more somatic symptoms while those with independent self construal did not necessarily report less somatic symptoms. Interestingly, the present study also found that people with interdependent self construal did not necessarily endorse greater negative emotions. Neither did people with independent self construal endorse lesser negative emotions. It was found that neurotic individuals reported more somatic symptoms and greater negative emotions. Implications of these results for clinical practice will be discussed.
Some 274 respondents were randomly selected to fill in a survey questionnaire, which contained demographic questions on gender, age, nationality, ethnicity, religion, educational level, marital status and occupation as well as the Self Construal Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, NEO Five-Factor Personality Inventory and Pennebaker.
The present study found that people with interdependent self construal did not necessarily report more somatic symptoms while those with independent self construal did not necessarily report less somatic symptoms. Interestingly, the present study also found that people with interdependent self construal did not necessarily endorse greater negative emotions. Neither did people with independent self construal endorse lesser negative emotions. It was found that neurotic individuals reported more somatic symptoms and greater negative emotions. Implications of these results for clinical practice will be discussed.
Date Issued
2008
Call Number
RC552.S66 Yap
Date Submitted
2008