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Journals / Kıbrıs Türk Psikiyatri ve Psikoloji Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 8 Sayı: 3

Investigation of Alexithymia Levels and Childhood Trauma in Mothers of Sexually Abused Children

Cinsel İstismar Mağduru Çocukların Annelerinin Aleksitimi Düzeyleri ve Çocukluk Çağı Travmalarının İncelenmesi

Hatice Oksal(Sakarya eğitim ve araştırma hastanesi)0000-0003-1685-4468
Ömer Büber(SAKARYA ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-9295-3789
Enes Sarıgedik(SAKARYA ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0002-9294-1152
Mustafa Tolga Tunagür(SAKARYA ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0002-8418-4745
Pages
292–298
Publication Date
2026-09-09
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings indicated that past traumatic experiences had marked effects on the mothers of sexually abused children and that these experiences were associated with alexithymia.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:The aim of this study is to compare the levels of alexithymia and childhood trauma experiences of mothers of sexually abused children with those of mothers in the control group, and to examine the relationships between alexithymia and trauma experiences.
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Key Findings & Data:The case group consisted of 41 mothers of sexually abused children.
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Conclusion & Impact:The findings indicated that past traumatic experiences had marked effects on the mothers of sexually abused children and that these experiences were associated with alexithymia.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Aleksitimi · Anne · Cinsel istismar

Abstract

The aim of this study is to compare the levels of alexithymia and childhood trauma experiences of mothers of sexually abused children with those of mothers in the control group, and to examine the relationships between alexithymia and trauma experiences. The research was conducted with a case-control design. The case group consisted of 41 mothers of sexually abused children. The control group consisted of 41 mothers whose children had no history of sexual abuse. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). In the case group, sexual abuse and emotional neglect scores were significantly higher compared to the control group (p=0.041; p=0.004, respectively), while minimization scores were significantly lower. No significant differences were observed between the groups on the TAS subscales and total scores. In the case group, negative correlations were observed between age and Difficulty Identifying Feelings (DIF), Difficulty Describing Feelings (DDF), and the TAS total score; positive correlations were observed between emotional neglect and DIF, DDF, EOT (Externally Oriented Thinking), and the TAS total score. The findings indicated that past traumatic experiences had marked effects on the mothers of sexually abused children and that these experiences were associated with alexithymia. The results highlight the importance of supporting the mental health of mothers for both parental well-being and the psychosocial development of the child.

Özet

Bu çalışmanın amacı, cinsel istismar mağduru çocukların annelerinin aleksitimi düzeylerini ve çocukluk çağı travma deneyimlerini kontrol grubundaki annelerle karşılaştırmak ve aleksitimi ile travma yaşantıları arasındaki ilişkileri incelemektir. Araştırma olgu-kontrol deseniyle yürütülmüştür. Olgu grubunu cinsel istismar mağduru çocuğun annesi olan 41 anne oluşturmuştur. Kontrol grubunu ise çocuklarında cinsel istismar öyküsü olmayan 41 anne oluşturmuştur. Araştırma verilerini toplamak için kişisel bilgi formu, Çocukluk Çağı Travmaları Ölçeği (CTQ-28) ve Toronto Aleksitimi Ölçeği (TAÖ-20) kullanılmıştır. Olgu grubunda cinsel istismar ve duygusal ihmal puanları, kontrol grubuna göre anlamlı olarak yüksektir (sırasıyla p=0,041; p=0,004); minimizasyon puanları ise anlamlı şekilde düşüktür. TAÖ alt boyutları ve toplam puan açısından gruplar arasında anlamlı bir fark gözlenmemiştir. Olgu grubunda yaş ile duyguları söze dökmede güçlük (DSDG), duyguları dışavurma/ifade etme güçlüğü (DDV) ve TAÖ toplam puanı arasında negatif korelasyonlar; duygusal ihmal ile DSDG, DDV, DTG ve TAÖ toplam puanları arasında pozitif korelasyonlar belirlenmiştir. Cinsel istismar mağduru çocukların annelerinde geçmişte yaşanan travmaların belirgin etkileri gözlenmiş ve bu yaşantıların aleksitimi ile ilişkili olduğu ortaya konmuştur. Bulgular, annelerin ruhsal sağlığının desteklenmesinin hem ebeveynlerin hem de çocukların psikososyal gelişimi açısından önemli olduğunu ortaya koymuştur.

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Cite This Article

Oksal, H., Büber, Ö., Sarıgedik, E., Tunagür, M. T. (2026). Investigation of Alexithymia Levels and Childhood Trauma in Mothers of Sexually Abused Children. Kıbrıs Türk Psikiyatri ve Psikoloji Dergisi, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 3, 292–298. https://doi.org/10.35365/ctjpp.26.3.07

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