Aggression in psychosomatic diseases: a qualitative study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 دکترای مشاوره دانشگاه محقق اردبیلی

2 Associate Professor of Counseling Group in Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabili, Iran

3 Professor of Counseling Group in Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabili, Iran

Abstract

The term psychosomatics covers illnesses that affect both the mind and the body. Sometimes psychological and emotional factors can influence the onset and progression of these diseases as risk factors. The basis of any psychosomatic illness is the body's response to emotional experiences, which is accompanied by functional and pathological changes in the body. This research was qualitative. The data for this study was collected through a semi-structured, in-depth interview. The research sample included 22 individuals with psychosomatic diseases (cardiac, digestive and respiratory) from Baqiyatullah Hospital in 2019. The sample was selected on a voluntary basis. The data obtained were analyzed using the content analysis approach and the method of Graneheim, &Lundman (2004). The qualitative analysis of the participants' life experiences led to the identification of 2 main categories of aggression (overt and covert). In addition, protective factors (religious and cultural beliefs, emotion regulation strategies and self-esteem) and risks (cognitive errors such as perfectionism, rumination and moodiness) were identified. The result of the present study shows that the phenomenon of aggression is expressed in different ways, which is one of the underlying factors for psychosomatic illnesses.

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