Affective correlates of trichotillomania across the pulling cycle: Findings from an Italian sample of self-identified hair pullers.
Etiological models of trichotillomania (TTM) conceptualize hair pulling as a dysfunctional emotion regulation strategy; accordingly, some research has found that affective states change differentially across the hair pulling cycle. We explored emotional changes in a sample of Italian individuals reporting TTM. Eighty-nine participants reporting TTM completed a 12-item section of the Italian Hair Pulling Questionnaire online and rated the extent to which they had experienced 12 affective states before, during, and after hair pulling. Overall, participants reported increased levels of shame, sadness, and frustration from pre- to post-pulling, and decreased levels of calmness after hair pulling episodes. Moreover, participants reported increased pleasure and relief across the pulling cycle, and variations in the direction of change for anger and anxiety depending on the hair pulling phase. Lastly, reported boredom decreased across the hair pulling cycle. These findings highlight the importance of considering emotional changes experienced across the pulling cycle in Italian hair pullers.
Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy. Electronic address: gioia.bottesi@unipd.it.
Gioia
G
Bottesi
Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy.
Silvia
S
Cerea
School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean Jacques Lussier, VNR 4088, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5.
Allison J
AJ
Ouimet
Department of Health Sciences, University of Firenze, via di San Salvi 12, Complesso di San Salvi Padiglione 26, 50135 Firenze, Italy.
Claudio
C
Sica
Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy.
Marta
M
Ghisi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008875:Middle Aged; D014256:Trichotillomania / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
Affective states; Hair pulling cycle; Italian sample; Trichotillomania