ISSN 0439-755X
CN 11-1911/B

›› 2011, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (06): 650-660.

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Self-Supporting Personality and Psychosomatic Symptoms: The Testing of Trait-Stress-Symptom Congruence and Mediating Model

XIA Ling-Xiang   

  1. School of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 40015, China
  • Received:2010-05-26 Revised:1900-01-01 Published:2011-06-30 Online:2011-06-30
  • Contact: XIA Ling-Xiang

Abstract: Self-supporting personality is viewed as an excellent personality factor in traditional Chinese culture and hypothesized as a health personality. In order to explore the role of self-supporting personality resisting psychosomatic symptoms, the trait-stress-symptom congruence and mediation model was developed, which included stress-mediator model hypothesis, trait–stress congruent hypothesis, and trait-symptoms congruent hypothesis.
To test this model, the Self-Supporting Personality Scale of Adolescent Students, Life-Events Scale of Adolescence and Symptom Check List90 (SCL-90) were administered to 674 valid subjects.
The results indicate: (1) The moderate model was not supported, and some self-supporting personality traits could predict psychosomatic symptoms through the mediating effect of stress. (2) The negative predicting effect of interpersonal self-supporting on psychosomatic symptoms was greater than personal self-supporting. Interpersonal self-supporting could negatively predict interpersonal and personal symptoms independently. Personal self-supporting could not independently predict interpersonal symptoms. (3) The negative predicting effect of personal self-supporting on stress was greater than interpersonal self-supporting. Personal self-supporting could negatively predict interpersonal and personal stress independently. Interpersonal self-supporting could not independently predict personal stress. (4) The modified trait-stress-symptom congruence and mediation model of self-supporting personality could be supported.
In sum, it can be concluded that interpersonal self-supporting negatively predicts psychosomatic symptoms through meditation of interpersonal stress. Personal self-supporting negatively predicts personal psychosomatic symptoms through mediation of stress.

Key words: self-supporting personality, psychosomatic symptoms, stress-mediator model, trait-stress congruency hypothesis, trait-symptoms congruency hypothesis, trait-stress-symptom congruence and mediating model