The mediating role of disgusting sensitivity in the relationship between temperamental dimensions and panic disorder

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

2 Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

Abstract

Aim: The objective of the current study was to explore the mediating role of disgust sensitivity in the association between temperament dimensions and panic disorder.
 
Method: This research utilized a descriptive-correlational design. The statistical population comprised all students of Urmia University during the academic year 2017-2018. A sample of 377 students was selected through multi-stage cluster sampling. Participants completed the Temperament and Character Inventory (Cloninger, Svrakic & Przybeck, 1993), the Disgust Scale (Haidt, 1994), and the Panic-Associated Symptom Scale (Liebowitz, 1984). Structural equation modeling was employed for data analysis, and the Smart-PLS software facilitated data classification, processing, analysis, and hypothesis testing.
 
Results: In this study, the indirect path coefficient between reward dependency (p< 0.01, β = -0.309) and perseverance (p< 0.01, β = 0.096) exhibited significance with a negative association with panic disorder at the 0.01 level. The indirect path coefficient between harm avoidance (p< 0.01, β = 0.135) and panic disorder was positively and significantly associated at the 0.01 level.
 
Conclusion: The findings support the role of temperament in contributing to panic disorder and highlight the importance of considering biological factors in the treatment of panic disorder. The proposed pathological model can enhance understanding of the role of disgust in psychological trauma and the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapies for individuals with anxiety disorders, including panic disorder.

Keywords


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