Evaluation of the Relationship Between Psychopathology and Environmental Factors in Psychiatric Diseases by Nonrecursive Modeling

Background: In the field of psychiatry, environmental factors, disease status and severity, functionality, perceived social support, and social relations are variables that affect psychopathology. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between environmental factors, disease diagnosis and severity with psychopathology using nonrecursive models included in structural equation modeling.

Methods: Within the scope of the study, 378 patients’ demographic characteristics, as well as their responses to the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and Personal and Social Performance Scale were included. They were diagnosed with the International Classification of Diseases after assessment of the physician, severity of the symptoms were determined using the Clinical Global Impression Scale. The causal relationship between environmental factors and disease diagnosis with psychopathology was evaluated with the Stata program using the 3-stage least squares method within the scope of nonrecursive models.

Results: The mean age of the patients participating in the study was 37.3 (SD=11.6); 61.6% were women, 58.8% had high school or lower education, 48.7% were married, and 72.1% had an income above the minimum wage. The mean score of support perceived by individuals from the environment (family, friend, partner) was 53.9 (SD=18.9), the mean of self-esteem score was 22.8 (SD=5.7), and the mean of trauma they experienced in their childhood due to abuse/neglect was 44.5 (SD=12.1). It was concluded that age and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire neglect subheadings were effective in the self-esteem score, and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire neglect and abuse subheadings were effective in perceived social support (P < .001).

Conclusion: When the causality relationships between Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Personal and Social Performance Scale, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support scores were evaluated, childhood trauma and age were determined as significant variables for self-esteem, childhood trauma for perceived support, and disease severity and diagnosis in individual and social functionality.

Cite this article as: Uzun SB, Gökmen D, Saka MC, Bashirov F. Evaluation of the relationship between psychopathology and environmental factors in psychiatric diseases by nonrecursive modeling. Alpha Psychiatry. 2023;24(4):146-152.