A study of posttraumatic stress in a student population.
The authors examined the incidence of posttraumatic stress (PTS), with respect to levels of exposure to traumatic events, in a British student population. Respondents (N = 700) completed a standard questionnaire booklet that contained a posttraumatic stress disorder interview. The questionnaire collected personal demographic information and was used by researchers to ascertain whether respondents had experienced a traumatic event. Consistent with previous American studies, PTS was found to be relatively common; 23.3% of the sample showed either current or past PTS. Female participants had a significantly higher incidence of PTS than did male participants, although the latter were more likely to report having experienced a traumatic event. The experience of trauma was significantly associated with the likelihood of PTS. The authors discuss implications of their results in terms of long-term consequences of unresolved trauma.
Purves
David G
DG
Department of Psychology, London Guildhall University, England.
Erwin
Philip G
PG
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology