Emotion regulation difficulties and posttraumatic stress disorder symptom cluster severity among trauma-exposed college students

Psychological Trauma : Theory, Research, Practice and Policy
Emily M O'BryanJohn B Fleming

Abstract

The present investigation examined the role of emotion regulation difficulties in predicting severity of the 3 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom clusters (i.e., reexperiencing, hyperarousal, avoidance) in a sample of undergraduates who reported exposure to at least 1 DSM-IV-TR Criterion A traumatic event (n = 297; 77.1% female, Mage = 20.46, SD = 4.64, range = 18-50 years). Results indicated that greater difficulties with emotional acceptance significantly predicted greater avoidance and hyperarousal symptom severity above and beyond the effects of number of trauma types endorsed and negative affect. Emotion regulation difficulties were not significantly predictive of reexperiencing symptom severity. Results from an exploratory analysis indicated that greater difficulties with emotional acceptance and greater difficulties accessing effective emotion regulation strategies when upset significantly predicted the DSM-5 negative alterations in cognitions and mood symptom cluster. These findings suggest that difficulties accepting one's emotional responses, in particular, may heighten emotional responding to and avoidance of trauma-related cues. Thus, individuals who experience such difficulties may be more likely to exper...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 3, 2019·Human Fertility : Journal of the British Fertility Society·Christine HahnEmma Ranum
Aug 12, 2015·Health Psychology Review·Gerjo KokL Kay Bartholomew
May 19, 2020·Journal of Community Psychology·Anita Padmanabhanunni
Feb 7, 2021·Psychiatry Research·Nicole M ChristMatthew T Tull

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