Emotional numbing in relation to stressful civilian experiences among college students.
Investigators have shown that hyperarousal is the best predictor of emotional numbing (EN), as compared with avoidance and reexperiencing. The aim of the present study was to extend this finding to the context of stressful civilian experiences among college students. Participants (N = 1,292) completed self-report checklists of stressful civilian experiences and PTSD symptoms. The results of multiple regression analyses in two subsamples consistently indicated that both hyperarousal and avoidance were good predictors of EN. These findings suggest that avoidance may play a more important role in the relationship between hyperarousal and EN in college students.
Flack
William F
WF
Department of Psychology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania 17837, USA. wflack@bucknell.edu
Milanak
Melissa E
ME
Kimble
Matthew O
MO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019260:Expressed Emotion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities