Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by avoidance of trauma-related emotions. Research indicates that this avoidance may extend to any emotional experience that elicits distress, including those that are unrelated to the trauma. Literature in this area has been limited in its exclusive focus on negative emotions. Despite evidence of gender differences in PTSD and emotional avoidance separately, no studies to date have examined gender as a moderator of their association. The goal of the current study was to extend research by exploring the moderating role of gender in the relation between PTSD symptom severity and positive and negative emotional avoidance. Participants were 276 trauma-exposed individuals (65.9% female, 65.6% White, Mage = 19.24) from a university in the north-eastern United States. Moderation results indicated a main effect for PTSD symptom severity on both positive (b = 0.07, p < .001) and negative (b = 0.04, p = .03) emotional avoidance. The interaction of gender and PTSD symptom severity was significant for positive emotion avoidance (b = 0.97, p = .01). Analysis of simple slopes revealed that PTSD symptom severity was significantly associated with positive emotional avoidance for males (b = 0.13, p < .001) but not females (b = 0.03, p = .08). Results suggest the importance of gender-sensitive recommendations for assessment and treatment of emotional avoidance in PTSD.
Highlights
Among college students, 81.8% report experiencing at least one traumatic event in their lifetime, and approximately one-third of those report symptoms consistent with probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Cusack et al, 2018; Overstreet, Berenz, Kendler, Dick, & Amstadter, 2017)
Consistent with existing research, women in the present study reported more severe PTSD symptoms and reported higher levels of negative emotional avoidance as compared to men
Regarding the relation of PTSD to emotional avoidance, greater PTSD symptom severity was associated with higher levels of both negative and positive emotional avoidance while there were no significant differences between males and females on positive emotional avoidance, gender was shown to moderate the link between PTSD symptom severity and positive emotional avoidance
Summary
81.8% report experiencing at least one traumatic event in their lifetime, and approximately one-third of those report symptoms consistent with probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Cusack et al, 2018; Overstreet, Berenz, Kendler, Dick, & Amstadter, 2017). Prospective studies have shown that trauma-exposed college students who develop PTSD are more likely to exhibit impairment in functioning (e.g., academic, social; Banyard & Cantor, 2004; Duncan, 2000) as well as comorbid physical, mental, and behavioral health problems (e.g., chronic pain; depression, substance use; Kessler, Sonnega, Bromet, Hughes, & Nelson, 1995; Messman-Moore, Ward, & Brown, 2009; Rutter, Weatherill, Krill, Orazem, & Taft, 2013). These findings underscore the need to investigate factors that may underlie the development and/or maintenance of PTSD among trauma-exposed college students. Emotional avoidance may be an important factor to consider in preventive and remedial interventions for PTSD
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