Gender Differences in Complex Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms, and Their Relationship to Mental Health and Substance Abuse Outcomes in Incarcerated Adults
Gender Differences in Complex Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms, and Their Relationship to Mental Health and Substance Abuse Outcomes in Incarcerated Adults
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DOI：
10.1177/0886260517692995
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发表时间：
2020-03-01
影响因子：
2.5
通讯作者：
Nochajski, Thomas H.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Giarratano, Paulette;Ford, Julian D.;Nochajski, Thomas H.
复杂创伤（CT;例如，儿童虐待）与严重的行为健康问题（即，精神健康和物质使用障碍）和与复杂创伤后应激障碍（C-PTSD）一致的症状。CT在成年法医人群中普遍存在，对妇女尤其重要，因为她们往往报告暴露于创伤性压力源的更不利后果，并且与男性相比，进入刑事司法系统的比率更高。然而，没有研究经验性地测试了CT，C-PTSD和行为健康问题与监禁成年人性别之间的关系。本研究探讨了性别和儿童虐待史，C-PTSD症状的严重程度和行为健康问题之间的关系，在497个监禁的成年人。研究结果表明，女性比男性更有可能报告儿童虐待史，以及更严重的C-PTSD症状和行为健康问题。儿童期虐待史显著解释了C-PTSD症状严重程度的性别差异。C-PTSD部分介导了精神病发病率和硬药物使用风险的性别差异。在成人刑事司法系统的创伤知情和性别敏感的服务和研究的影响进行了讨论。
Complex trauma (CT; for example, childhood abuse) has been associated with significant behavioral health problems (i.e., mental health and substance use disorders) and symptoms that are consistent with complex posttraumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD). CT is prevalent in adult forensic populations, and particularly important for women as they tend to report more adverse consequences of exposure to traumatic stressors and are entering the criminal justice system at a heightened rate compared with men. However, no studies have empirically tested the relationship among CT, C-PTSD, and behavioral health problems with gender among incarcerated adults. The present study examined the relationship between gender and childhood abuse history, C-PTSD symptom severity, and behavioral health problems in 497 incarcerated adults. Findings indicate that women were more likely to report a history of childhood abuse, and more severe C-PTSD symptoms and behavioral health problems than men. Childhood abuse history significantly accounted for the gender difference observed in C-PTSD symptom severity. C-PTSD partially mediated the gender difference in psychiatric morbidity and in risk of hard drug use. Implications for trauma-informed and gender-responsive services and research in the adult criminal justice system are discussed.