The effects of trauma history, gender, and race on alcohol use and posttraumatic stress symptoms in a college student sample

Measurement invariance of the World Assumptions Questionnaire across race/ethnic group, sex, and sexual orientation

OBJECTIVE

The World Assumptions Questionnaire (WAQ) was developed to assess optimism and assumptions about the world, which often shift after traumatic events. However, no known study has investigated whether the WAQ holds similar meaning across demographic groups. The objective of this study was to investigate measurement invariance of the WAQ across race/ethnic group, sex, and sexual orientation.

METHOD

Participants consisted of 1,181 college students (75% female; 25% Black, 13% Latinx, 18% Asian, 45% White; 90% heterosexual) who completed an online survey on stress, personality, substance use, and mental health. We investigated a unidimensional and the 4-factor structure of the WAQ using confirmatory factor analysis, and configural, metric, and scalar invariance using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis.

RESULTS

After dropping 3 items, a 4-factor structure fit the data well (comparative fit index = .92; root mean square error of approximation =.05; 95% confidence interval [.045, .054]; standardized root mean square residual = .06). Mean WAQ scores were higher for participants with probable posttraumatic stress disorder on 2 of the 4 factors. We also identified multiple items that were not invariant across race/ethnic group, sex, and sexual orientation. However, after invariant items were removed, evidence of configural, scalar, and metric invariance was found.

CONCLUSIONS

This study replicated the 4-factor structure, mapping onto the 4 WAQ subscales, and indicated that a unidimensional measure of world assumptions should not be used. After making the adjustments recommended herein, the WAQ can be used to investigate differences across race/ethnic group, sex, and sexual orientation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

The utility of college student samples in research on trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder: A critical review

There is a widespread notion of the 'college sophomore problem' in social science research that posits that college student samples are samples of convenience with little generalizability to the general population. To address this concern, we conducted a critical review of the literature on college student samples in trauma research. Specifically, we reviewed how college student samples differ from non-college samples in four key areas of trauma research: (1) exposure rates to potentially traumatic events (PTEs), (2) prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, (3) factor structure of PTSD symptoms, and (4) PTSD's relation with common markers, correlates, and consequences. Lastly, we discussed the value and advantages of using college student samples in trauma research. Results of the critical review indicated similar trends of trauma-related findings (Points 1-4) between college student samples and both U.S. nationally collected and treatment-seeking samples; specifically, we identified a comparable lifetime PTE exposure rate, comparable rates of PTSD, a comparable factor structure of PTSD symptoms, and a comparable pattern of associations between PTSD symptoms and post-trauma markers/correlates/consequences. Although trauma-exposed college student samples are biased in some key areas, they may be no more biased than other commonly used trauma samples (e.g. epidemiological, treatment-seeking). Results of this critical review highlight the need to re-examine potentially unfounded biases on the part of the trauma research community, as well as the need to consider advantages of using college student samples in trauma research.

The Association Between Childhood Adversity and Self-Rated Physical Health in US College Students

Purpose:

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are related to unhealthy behaviors and poor self-rated health. Poor self-rated physical health (SRPH) is negatively associated with college students’ grades and overall academic achievement. This study examined the effects of ACEs on SRPH among undergraduate and graduate students (n = 568; 18-30 years) from a public university in the southeast.

Methods:

Students completed a cross-sectional online survey in October 2018. We conducted unadjusted and adjusted logistic regressions to examine the relationship between ACEs and SRPH among US college students.

Results:

Most participants reported 1 to 4 ACEs; one-fourth reported poor SRPH. Higher ACE exposure increased the odds for poor SRPH in a curvilinear relationship. Unadjusted results indicate ACE exposure increased risk between 82% and 228%, and that higher levels of resilience and adherence to diet and physical activity guidelines reduced risk for poor SRPH. In adjusted models, moderate ACE exposure was associated with 2.46 times greater odds (95% CI = 1.28-9.34) of reporting poor SRPH. Graduate students (odds ratio [OR] = .52, 95% CI = .27-.99) and those who met healthy diet (OR = .12, 95% CI = .02-.93) and physical activity recommendations (OR = .36, 95% CI = .23-.58) had reduced odds of poor SRPH.

Conclusions:

Students who have experienced ACEs are at a greater risk for poor health. Student health programs on campus should take a holistic approach by screening students for childhood adversity and promoting healthy behaviors to improve physical health.

PTSD Symptom Severity, Cannabis, and Gender: A Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial Regression Model

INTRODUCTION

In the general population, significant relations have been shown between experienced trauma and cannabis use. Approximately three out of four college students report experiencing at least one-lifetime traumatic event, putting them at greater risk for developing substance use disorder (SUD), and college students report using cannabis to cope with negative effect and stress. However, PTSD symptom severity predicting cannabis use in the college population has not been investigated.

METHODS

This cross-sectional survey study investigated the relation between PTSD symptom severity and cannabis use, and explored the moderating effect of gender on this relation, using a non-directional, exploratory analysis, in a sample of college students (N = 536; 68% female). Due to excessive zero values in the primary outcome, a zero-inflated negative binomial regression model was used.

RESULTS

Gender predicted number of cannabis using days [incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 2.17; 95%CI = 1.41, 3.35; p < .001]. The probability of being a cannabis user was moderated by gender [odds ratio (OR) = 0.96; 95%CI= 0.93, 0.99; p = .026], such that for males, as PTSD symptom severity increased, likelihood of being a cannabis user increased. This relation was not supported in females, however. Conclusion/Implication: Discussion includes the potential role of the endocannabinoid system, social norms, and motives in gender differences in PTSD-related cannabis use, and explores the self-medication hypothesis in this context.

When the party continues: Impulsivity and the effect of employment on young adults' post-college alcohol use

BACKGROUND

The transition from college to work is both an exciting and potentially high risk time for young adults. As students transition from academic settings to full-time employment, they must navigate new social demands, work demands, and adjust their drinking behaviors accordingly. Research has shown that there are both protective factors and risk factors associated with starting a new job when it comes to alcohol use, and individual differences can moderate these factors.

METHOD

1361 students were recruited from 4 geographically diverse universities and followed 1month pre- and 1month post-graduation. Drinking frequency, quantity, consequences, and impulsivity were assessed.

RESULTS

Full-time employment was related to increased drinking quantity but not related to changes in other drinking outcomes. However, impulsivity moderated the relationship between employment and drinking. For those reporting higher levels of impulsivity at baseline, full-time employment was associated with an increase in drinking variables (quantity and frequency), whereas drinking was unaffected by full-time employment status among those reporting lower levels of impulsivity. Implications for future research are discussed.

Does college alcohol consumption impact employment upon graduation? Findings from a prospective study

[Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported in Vol 103(1) of Journal of Applied Psychology (see record 2017-44578-001). In the article, the authors incorrectly used the term "probability" instead of the term "odds" when relating to the impact of drinking in college on post-graduation employment. The abstract should note "a roughly 10% reduction in the odds...", and in the 2nd paragraph of the Discussion section, (a) "a roughly 10% lower probability" should be "a roughly 10% lower odds", and (b) "their probability of full-time employment upon graduation is roughly 6% lower than..." should be "their odds of full-time employment upon graduation is roughly 6% lower than..." All versions of this article have been corrected.] Although scholars have extensively studied the impact of academic and vocational factors on college students' employment upon graduation, we still know little as to how students' health-related behaviors influence such outcomes. Focusing on student alcohol use as a widely prevalent, health-related behavior, in the current study, we examined the employment implications of student drinking behavior. Drawing from literature examining the productivity effects of drinking and research on job search, we posited that modal quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption, as well as the frequency of heavy episodic drinking (HED) adversely impact the probability of employment upon graduation. Using data from 827 graduating seniors from 4 geographically diverse universities in the United States collected in the context of a prospective study design, we found modal alcohol consumption to have no adverse effect on the likelihood of employment upon graduation. However, we did find a significant adverse effect for the frequency of heavy drinking, with the data suggesting a roughly 10% reduction in the odds of employment upon graduation among college seniors who reported engaging in the average level of HED. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record

Physical and mental health of children with substantiated sexual abuse: Gender comparisons from a matched-control cohort study

When compared to children from the general population, sexually abused children receive more medical services, both for physical and mental health problems. However, possible differences between sexually abused boys and girls remain unknown. The lack of control group in studies that find gender differences also prevents from determining if the differences are specific to sexual abuse or to gender. The objective of the study was to assess differences in physical and mental health between sexually abused boys and girls in comparison to those from the general population. Administrative databases were used to document physical and mental health problems of 222 males and 660 females with a substantiated report of sexual abuse between 2001 and 2010. A comparison group individually matched to those from the sexually abused group on gender, age and geographic area was also used to document gender differences in the general population. Yearly incidence rates of diagnoses resulting from medical consultations and hospitalizations of males and females were compared over five years after a first substantiated sexual abuse report using the mixed general linear model. Sexually abused girls were up to 2.2 times more likely to consult a physician than sexually abused boys for physical health problems. Similar findings are observed in the general population. Conversely, results revealed that sexually abused boys were up to 2.3 times more likely than females to consult a physician for mental health problems. This gender difference was not apparent in the general population group.

Relationships between potentially traumatic events, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of PTSD and alcohol use disorder in a young adult sample

OBJECTIVE

Traumatic events, particularly those that are interpersonal in nature, are associated with increased risk for co-occurring sequelae, including sleep disturbances, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, the associations between these phenotypes have not been explored among college students.

METHODS

We examined relationships between type of potentially traumatic event (PTE) exposure (pre-college) and sleep disturbances, as well as mediating effects of lifetime PTSD and AUD symptoms on these relationships, in a large undergraduate sample (N = 1599, 64.7% female). Hierarchical linear regressions were conducted, beginning with demographics and then adding interpersonal and accidental PTEs in a stepwise regression; mediation analyses were run.

RESULTS

Within the sample, 33.7% endorsed at least one interpersonal PTE, while 64.4% endorsed at least one accidental PTE. Hierarchical regressions demonstrated that interpersonal (β = 0.202, p = 0.000), but not accidental PTE exposure significantly predicted disturbed sleep. Both PTSD and AUD symptoms significantly mediated (p values < 0.001) the relationship between interpersonal PTE exposure and sleep, with indirect effects accounting for 61% and 17% of total effects, respectively. In the correlated mediation model, both disorders remained significant mediators (p < 0.001), with indirect effects accounting for 56% (PTSD symptoms) and 14% (AUD symptoms) of total effects on sleep.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that interpersonal PTEs are more potent predictors of sleep problems than accidental PTEs. Further, trauma exposure psychiatric symptom sequelae (PTSD, AUD) account for part of the relationship between interpersonal PTE exposure and disturbed sleep, which both independently and jointly suggests that treating PTSD and AUD symptoms in college students may also improve sleep.

Social Surrogate use in those Exposed to Trauma: I Get by with a Little Help from my (Fictional) Friends

Traumatic events bring an increased need for social connection but paradoxically can make relationships more difficult. The current research examines the unique role social surrogates such as favorite TV shows, books, and celebrities may play in fulfilling the social needs of people who have experienced trauma. Across two studies we predicted and found that experiencing traumatic events is associated with higher interest in using social surrogates. Furthermore, individuals who have experienced trauma without developing PTSD are able to effectively use social surrogates to combat social isolation. However, perhaps because PTSD symptoms often are associated with impaired social functioning, those with PTSD actually feel worse after social surrogate use. Implications for trauma, PTSD, social surrogates, and social self research are discussed.

The Effects of Childhood and Adolescent Adversity on Substance Use Disorders and Poor Health in Early Adulthood

Childhood and adolescent adversity have been shown to predict later mental and physical health outcomes. Understanding which aspects and developmental timings of adversity are important, and the mechanisms by which they have their impact may help guide intervention approaches. A large subset of adolescents (N = 457; Female 68.9 %) from the 10-year longitudinal Youth Emotion Project was examined to better understand the associations among childhood/adolescent adversity, substance use disorder, and later health quality. Adolescent (but not childhood) adversities were associated with poorer health in late adolescence/early adulthood, adolescent adversities were associated with subsequent onset of substance use disorder, and adolescent adversities continued to be associated with poorer health in late adolescence/early adulthood after accounting for the variance explained by substance use disorder onset. These associations were observed after statistically accounting for emotional disorders and socioeconomic status. Specific domains of adversity uniquely predicted substance use disorder and poorer health outcomes. In contrast with current recent research, our findings suggest the association between childhood/adolescent adversity and poorer health outcomes in late adolescence and emerging adulthood are not entirely accounted for by substance use disorder, suggesting efforts to curtail family-based adolescent adversity may have downstream health benefits.

Social Support, Emotional Intelligence, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

Abstract. Exposure to traumatic events and the associated risk of developing Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms is a significant and overlooked concern in the college population. It is important for current research to identify potential protective factors associated with the development and maintenance of PTSD symptoms unique to this population. Emotional intelligence and perceived social support are two identified protective factors that influence the association between exposure to traumatic events and PTSD symptomology. The current study examined the mediating role of social support in the relationship between emotional intelligence and PTSD symptoms. Participants included 443 trauma-exposed university students who completed online questionnaires. The results of this study indicated that social support mediates the relationship between emotional intelligence and reported PTSD symptoms. Thus, emotional intelligence is significantly associated with PTSD symptoms and social support may play an integral role in the relationship between emotional intelligence and PTSD. The current study is the first to investigate the role of social support in the relationship between emotional intelligence and PTSD symptoms. These findings have important treatment and prevention implications with regard to PTSD.

Alcohol Expectancies, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Alcohol Use in College Students With a History of Childhood Trauma

OBJECTIVE

Prior research has emphasized that the key mediator in the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom-alcohol use relationship is the expectancy of alcohol's tension-reducing properties. This study extends the literature by examining various alcohol outcome expectancies.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data were obtained from 198 college students who reported experiencing at least one traumatic event in childhood. Participants answered surveys measuring PTSD symptoms, alcohol outcome expectancies, and three measures of alcohol consumption and related problems.

RESULTS

Participants included 131 males (mean age = 19.65 years, SD = 1.06, range = 18 to 24) and 67 females (mean age = 19.43 years, SD = 0.82, range = 18 to 23), who were predominantly European-American (82%). For males and females, results of the multivariate analyses suggested that self-perception expectancies mediated the effects of PTSD symptoms on alcohol use severity, whereas sociability expectancies mediated the effects of PTSD symptoms on monthly alcohol use. For women, risk and aggression and sexuality expectancies mediated the relationship between PTSD symptoms and alcohol use severity, while risk and aggression expectancies mediated the relationship between PTSD symptoms and alcohol use consequences. For men, sociability expectancies mediated the effects of PTSD symptoms on alcohol use severity. Across genders, tension-reduction expectancies did not mediate the relationship between PTSD symptom and the three alcohol measures.

CONCLUSIONS

This study was unable to find support for the self-medication hypothesis via the tension-reduction outcome expectancy pathway. However, other significant findings can be interpreted in light of the self-medication hypothesis. For example, alcohol may aid in coping with social impairments related to PTSD symptoms, particularly in a college sample. This study also highlighted gender differences in the association between PTSD symptoms and alcohol consumption and related problems.

Associations among Trauma, Posttraumatic Stress, and Hazardous Drinking in College Students: Considerations for Intervention

Students with trauma and posttraumatic stress are disproportionately at risk for heavy drinking and for alcohol-related consequences. Brief motivational interventions (BMIs) have been shown to reduce hazardous drinking in college students, and could serve as a first-line approach to reduce heavy drinking in students with trauma and posttraumatic stress (PTS). Yet the standard BMI format may not adequately address the factors that lead to hazardous drinking in these students. Here, we review the literature on PTS and hazardous drinking in college students, and highlight cognitive (self-efficacy, alcohol expectancies) and behavioral (coping strategies, emotion regulation skills, protective behaviors) factors that may link trauma and PTS to drinking risk. Incorporating these factors into standard BMIs in a collaborative way that enhances their personal relevance may enhance intervention efficacy and acceptability for these at-risk students.

Coping, PTSD symptoms, and alcohol involvement in trauma-exposed college students in the first three years of college

The objective of the present study was to examine prospective, bidirectional associations among posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, coping style, and alcohol involvement (use, consequences) in a sample of trauma-exposed students just entering college. We also sought to test the mechanistic role that coping may play in associations between PTSD symptoms and problem alcohol involvement over time. Participants (N = 734) completed measures of trauma exposure, PTSD symptoms, coping, and alcohol use and consequences in September of their first college year and again each September for the next 2 years. We observed reciprocal associations between PTSD and negative coping strategies. In our examination of a mediated pathway through coping, we found an indirect association from alcohol consequences and PTSD symptoms via negative coping, suggesting that alcohol consequences may exacerbate posttraumatic stress over time by promoting negative coping strategies. Trauma characteristics such as type (interpersonal vs. noninterpersonal) and trauma reexposure did not moderate these pathways. Models were also invariant across gender. Findings from the present study point to risk that is conferred by both PTSD and alcohol consequences for using negative coping approaches, and through this, for posttraumatic stress. Interventions designed to decrease negative coping may help to offset this risk, leading to more positive outcomes for those students who enter college with trauma exposure.

History of childhood adversity is positively associated with ventral striatal dopamine responses to amphetamine

RATIONALE

Childhood exposure to severe or chronic trauma is an important risk factor for the later development of adult mental health problems, such as substance abuse. Even in nonclinical samples of healthy adults, persons with a history of significant childhood adversity seem to experience greater psychological distress than those without this history. Evidence from rodent studies suggests that early life stress may impair dopamine function in ways that increase risks for drug abuse. However, the degree to which these findings translate to other species remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to examine associations between childhood adversity and dopamine and subjective responses to amphetamine in humans.

METHODS

Following intake assessment, 28 healthy male and female adults, aged 18-29 years, underwent two consecutive 90-min positron emission tomography studies with high specific activity [(11)C]raclopride. The first scan was preceded by intravenous saline; the second by amphetamine (AMPH 0.3 mg/kg).

RESULTS

Consistent with prior literature, findings showed positive associations between childhood trauma and current levels of perceived stress. Moreover, greater number of traumatic events and higher levels of perceived stress were each associated with higher ventral striatal dopamine responses to AMPH. Findings of mediation analyses further showed that a portion of the relationship between childhood trauma and dopamine release may be mediated by perceived stress.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, results are consistent with preclinical findings suggesting that early trauma may lead to enhanced sensitivity to psychostimulants and that this mechanism may underlie increased vulnerability for drug abuse.

Proximal relationships between PTSD symptoms and drinking among female college students: results from a daily monitoring study

Self-medication has been theorized to explain comorbidity between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and drinking, whereupon problem drinking develops in order to modulate negative affect and ameliorate PTSD symptoms. Daily monitoring methodologies may help refine our understanding of proximal relations between PTSD, affect, and alcohol use. One hundred thirty-six female college drinkers with a past history of sexual victimization and 38 female college drinkers with no past trauma history completed electronic monitoring of PTSD symptoms, affect, alcohol use, and alcohol cravings, daily for 4 weeks. A two-part mixed hurdle model was used to examine likelihood of drinking and amount of alcohol consumed on drinking days. We found significant relationships between daily PTSD symptoms, affect, and drinking. On days women experienced more intrusive and behavioral avoidance symptoms of PTSD, they experienced stronger urges to drink and were more likely to drink on that day. On days in which women experienced more negative affect than their average, they experienced stronger urges to drink, whereas on days in which women experienced more of the dysphoric symptoms associated with PTSD than their average, they drank less. On days with higher positive affect, women reported stronger urges to drink and were more likely to drink. Results suggest the need to examine both aspects of affect and specific PTSD symptoms as they may differentially predict drinking behavior. Differences in the ways in which PTSD symptoms and affect influence drinking suggest that interventions more specifically address the function of drinking behaviors in reducing alcohol use among college women.

Associations between intimate partner violence and posttraumatic stress symptom severity in a multiethnic sample of men with histories of childhood sexual abuse

OBJECTIVE

Little research exists identifying risk factors for posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among men with histories of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) who have been exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV).

METHODS

One hundred and fifty African American, Latino and non-Latino White men with histories of CSA participated in this study.

RESULTS

An ordinary least squares regression model with race/ethnicity, HIV serostatus, and CSA severity treated as cofounders and with IPV as the predictor was fitted to predict level of PTSS. Higher levels of IPV were significantly associated with higher PTSS, as were higher levels of chronic stress, and being African American.

CONCLUSIONS

Mental health service providers should routinely screen for IPV in men who report histories of CSA and PTSS.

Rates of DSM-IV-TR Trauma Exposure and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Newly Matriculated College Students

The negotiation of the freedoms and responsibilities introduced as adolescents begin college may be particularly challenging for those with a trauma history and traumatic stress sequelae (posttraumatic stress disorder; PTSD). The present study examined the prevalence of and risk for trauma and PTSD in a large sample of college students. Matriculating students (N = 3,014; 1,763 female, 1,251 male) at two U.S. universities completed online and paper assessments. Sixty-six percent reported exposure to a Criterion A trauma. Nine percent met criteria for PTSD. Female gender was a risk factor for trauma exposure. Gender and socioeconomic status (SES) were associated with trauma severity. Although in bivariate models, gender and SES were associated with PTSD, multivariate analyses suggested this risk was a function of trauma severity. Thus, students enter college with significant trauma histories and PTSD symptoms. Findings highlight the potential for outreach to incoming students with trauma and point to research directions to enhance understanding of the psychological needs of entering college students.

What are the needs of alcohol dependent patients with a history of sexual violence? A case-register study in a metropolitan region

BACKGROUND

Sexual violence has become increasingly apparent as a factor determining more complex treatment needs in patients with substance abuse. However, empirical evidence on specific patterns of differences between patients with and without a history of sexual violence is scarce.

METHODS

Our sample consisted of alcohol dependent outpatients treated during a two-year period in a German metropolitan region. The analysis was based on a local case register and included all patients for whom information on lifetime sexual violence was available (N=1981; 33.4% female). In a case-control design, patients with a history of sexual violence were compared to patients without such experiences regarding a wide range of clinical and social factors indicative of potential needs.

RESULTS

More than 35% of the female patients and 6% of the male patients reported a history of sexual violence. Victims differed from non-victims across a variety of domains, including psychiatric symptoms and suicide attempts, legal problems, financial and family problems, previous use of services, and need for additional services during the current treatment. Patient gender emerged as a significant moderator of several of these associations.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicate that an effort needs to be made to link addiction treatment, other parts of the health care system, and further institutions, such as family services and parts of the legal system, so that the complex needs of this vulnerable population can be met in an adequate way.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Use Disorders in College Students

Research indicates that many college students report post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or substance use disorder (SUD), yet there has been scant attention paid to the co-occurrence of these disorders in college students. This review examines the co-occurrence of PTSD and SUD in college students. Recommendations for counseling centers are provided regarding the assessment of this population, an overview of treatment issues, and three areas of clinical importance when working with this population: risk behaviors, interpersonal violence, and social isolation. Future directions for research are also suggested.

The relationship between childhood sexual abuse and adult mental health among undergraduates: victim gender doesn't matter

A large body of research has documented the harmful effects of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) on adult mental health among females, but less work has examined this issue among males. This study examined whether gender moderated the relationship between CSA and adult mental health among a mixed-gender sample of 406 undergraduates. A Pearson chi-square test indicated that a significantly greater proportion of females (41.6%) than males (30.7%) reported a history of CSA. ANCOVAs tested whether gender, CSA status, and their interaction were related to adult mental health symptomatology as measured by Brief Symptom Inventory gender-normed t scores. Participants with a history of CSA reported significantly higher levels of global mental health problems, hostility, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism. The gender by CSA status interaction was not significant for any scale, indicating that the harmful effects of CSA on adult mental health did not vary by gender.

An overview of posttraumatic stress disorder in African Americans

While several studies have found high rates of trauma exposure there is limited information on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its relationship to depression in the African American population. The prevalence and/or expression of psychiatric disorders can differ between racial/ethnic groups. The authors review literature addressing trauma exposure, prevalence, and expression of PTSD in the African American population. Risk factors that may be of specific significance to the development of PTSD in African Americans are also reviewed. Additionally, treatment issues and potential directions for future research of PTSD in the African American population are discussed.

"Dissed" by dating violence

PROBLEM

This study describes the impact of the experience of dating violence on the daily lives of college women.

METHODS

Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze transcribed responses from an open-ended question about the impact of dating violence.

FINDINGS

Eight thematic categories emerged: emotional distress, distrust and using extra precautions, disconnected and distant in relationships, self-discontentment, disclaiming the experience, feeling disenfranchised, life disruption, and turning a situation from disempowering to empowering.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding the perspective of dating violence victims assists the advanced practice psychiatric nurse (APPN) with planning effective care. Routine screening about past and present experiences of violence must occur with all young women. Providers must be knowledgeable about available resources for victims.

Spirituality, mindfulness and substance abuse

A growing body of research suggests that mindfulness-based therapies may be effective in treating a variety of disorders including stress, chronic pain, depression and anxiety. However, there are few valid and reliable measures of mindfulness. Furthermore, mindfulness is often thought to be related to spirituality, given its roots in Buddhist tradition, but empirical studies on this relationship are difficult to find. The present study: (1) tested the reliability and validity of a new mindfulness measure, the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI), (2) explored the relationship between mindfulness and spirituality, and (3) investigated the relationship between mindfulness and/or spirituality and alcohol and tobacco use in an undergraduate college population (N=196). Results support the reliability of the FMI and suggest that spirituality and mindfulness may be separate constructs. In addition, smoking and frequent binge-drinking were negatively correlated with spirituality scores; as spirituality scores increased the use of alcohol and tobacco decreased. Thus, spirituality may be related to decreased substance use. In contrast, a positive relationship between mindfulness and smoking/frequent binge-drinking behavior was uncovered, and warrants further investigation.

Perceived Uncontrollability and Unpredictability, Self-Regulation, and Sexual Revictimization

This article reviews the descriptive literature on sexual revictimization and the evidence for the theoretical models that have been formulated to explain this phenomenon. Also, a speculative account of sexual revictimization is presented. The proposed model emphasizes individuals’ attempts to influence or control the quality, frequency, intensity, or duration of fear and arousal associated with a history of uncontrollable and unpredictable childhood sexual abuse through the use of antecedent or response-focused emotion regulation processes. The various forms of emotion regulation may produce symptoms or behaviors that may signal vulnerability to sexual predators, result in impairment of the ability to properly process danger cues, and impede successful defensive behavior. Implications of the proposed model and future directions are discussed.