Attributions for Different Types of Traumatic Events and Post-Traumatic Stress Among Women |
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Authors: | Heidi M. Zinzow Joan L. Jackson |
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Affiliation: | 1. Clemson University , Clemson, South Carolina, USA hzinzow@clemson.edu;3. University of Georgia , Athens, Georgia, USA |
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Abstract: | This study investigated the relationship of attributions to post-traumatic stress symptoms among women exposed to different types of traumatic events. Participants were 424 female undergraduates who previously experienced a serious accident, natural disaster, child abuse, or adult interpersonal violence. Path analysis indicated a significant indirect pathway from event type to post-traumatic stress through global attributions. Interpersonal-violence survivors exhibited the highest levels of global attributions and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Regression analyses revealed significant interactions between event type and attributions in predicting post-traumatic stress. Stable attributions were associated with increased symptoms in sexual-assault survivors and decreased symptoms in natural-disaster survivors. These findings have implications for improving cognitive interventions for survivors of different types of traumatic events. |
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Keywords: | trauma post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cognition accident natural disaster interpersonal violence child abuse domestic violence mental health sexual assault crime |
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