PTSD and re-offending risk: the mediating role of worry and a negative perception of other people's support

Abstract

BackgroundStudies of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are mainly focused on victims of trauma. Veryfew studies explored the links between PTSD symptoms and re-offending risk in perpetrators of violence.ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to assess the effect of PTSD symptoms on re-offending risk in prisonerpopulations with a focus on indirect effects of worry and a negative perception of other people’s support onthe relationship between PTSD and re-offending risk.Methods75 prisoners (25 females, mean age: 44.36 years; 50 males, mean age: 34.7 years) were assessed forexposure to child abuse and neglect, PTSD symptoms, worry, a negative perception of other people’s supportand re-offending risk. Mediation analyses tested the indirect effects of worry and a negative perception ofother people’s support on the relationship between PTSD and re-offending risk.Results72% participants presented PTSD symptoms and 30.7% were at risk of re-offending. Mediationanalyses supported the hypothesis of a mediation pathway from PTSD to worry and a negative perception ofother people’s support to an increased risk of re-offending.ConclusionsThe results indicate that prisoners report high rates of PTSD symptoms; furthermore, theyhighlight an important relationship between PTSD and re-offending risk. Findings suggest that futureresearch should test further the indirect effects of negative cognitive and emotional states on the relationshipof PTSD and re-offending risk and explore more in depth the role of PTSD to assess and treat prisoners.