Is Hostility the Link Between Low and High Levels of Psychological Symptoms?: A Latent Profile Analysis

Abstract

An alternative for the study of co-occurring syndromes is the empirically derived Latent Profile Analysis (LPA). Due to the apparent non-existence of research using this method with a wide variety of psychological symptoms, the aim of the present study comprised the empirical determination of their patterns. After identifying the latent subgroups, the second objective of the study was to analyze their differences concerning symptom severity, use of coping strategies, selected social support variables, personality traits, and sociodemographic variables. The sample (n= 918) was collected through the Internet and, employing van der Waerden´s non-parametric test, differences were evaluated between the five profiles found. The results evidenced considerable effect sizes regarding hostility and no significant differences for extraversion.After controlling for demographic variables and personality traits, adaptive coping strategies showed no significant differences. It was concluded that future research should further study hostility as a possible link between high and low levels of the symptoms analyzed and their associations with perceived understanding, emotional support received, and availability of emotional support as protective factors