Following a sexual trauma, women commonly report mental contamination (i.e. feelings of dirtiness or distress without physical contact). According to the S-REF model metacognitive beliefs would predict greater mental contamination after an evoking source. Participants completed a questionnaire battery and the “dirty-kiss” task, used to evoke mental contamination. Metacognitive beliefs regarding uncontrollability and danger predicted greater mental contamination severity. The present results provide preliminary support for the S-REF model as a potential framework for conceptualizing mental contamination.

Click here for the full article: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01784