Psychodiagnostic and Electroencephalographic Correlates of Somatization in University Students during the Adaptation Period

Background: the emotional and mental state of young people affects their interest in learning and their ability to behave appropriately in difficult circumstances. In this regard, there is a need for a theoretical justification and determination of the relationship between the phenomenon of somatization and psychophysiological characteristics of students in the process of adaptation to higher education. The purpose of the study is to determine the relationship between the mechanism of psychosomatic balancing and psychophysiological indicators in the process of adaptation to university education among students. Participants and Methods: 48 first-year students of pedagogical specialties participated in the study. A psychodiagnostic method was used to determine the level of somatization, adaptability and emotional state. The assessment of brain activity indicators was carried out by watching videos of difficult life situations during adaptation to higher education of students and a phenomenological interview with them using the equipment of the company “Medikom MTD”. The main rhythms of the electroencephalogram were evaluated. In order to identify the social contexts and meanings that the student puts in while watching the video, a phenomenological interview was compiled. Results: correlations were found between a high level of somatization and a high level of adaptation to the study group among students. The decrease in alpha rhythm is directly related to a high level of somatization and a high level of adaptability to the study group. When the beta rhythm is low, as shown in the discriminant analysis, there is no cognitive assessment of a difficult situation. Conclusion: young people with a high level of somatization are highly adapted to the study group, which confirms the socially oriented personality type of these young students, their tendency to be included in the educational process and compliance with the rules. A method is proposed to assess the severity of students’ somatization by a set of psychodiagnostic indicators and indicators of brain activity when watching videos of stressful situations and interviews. The revealed patterns are explained by the action of the mechanism of psychosomatic balancing in the post-puberty adolescent period of ego formation, self-awareness and the change of the phase of drives to the phase of interests, which complements scientific knowledge about the neuropsychology of development.