EXAMINING THE EFFECT OF RACE ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND METABOLIC SYNDROME IN WOMEN

Abstract

EXAMINING THE EFFECT OF RACE ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND METABOLIC SYNDROME IN WOMEN By: Leia A. Harper, MDiv A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University, 2014 Major Director: Scott Vrana, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology Department of Psychology Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition affecting approximately 8% of the adult U.S. population with rates twice as high in women than men. Increasingly, evidence has suggested a close relationship between PTSD and increased risk of metabolic diseases. However, the literature on PTSD and metabolic disease risk factors has been limited by the lack of investigation of the potential influence of race on this relation. The current study examined the possible effect of race on the relation between PTSD and metabolic risk. Data for this study were provided from sample of that included 50 African American women and 39 Caucasian women, 56.2% and 43.8% respectively. Results support the importance of race in the relationship between PTSD and metabolic disease risk factors. Future research would benefit from analysis of cultural factors to explain how race might influence the course of metabolic disease risk and development in women with PTSD.