title: Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms mediate the relationship between trauma exposure and smoking status in college students.
abstract: The present study examined the relationship between trauma exposure and smoking status and the extent to which post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms mediated this relationship in a sample of 329 college students who experienced a prior traumatic event. Participants experienced an average of 2.2 prior traumas, and approximately 15% (n = 49) were smokers. Bootstrapping analyses revealed that after controlling for age, gender and time since trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms served as a pathway through which trauma exposure increased the risk of smoking [BC 95% CI (0.02, 0.18)]. Results appeared to be due largely to the influence of hyperarousal symptoms [BC 95% CI (0.05, 0.22)]. Comprehensive interventions for undergraduate smokers may be improved by attending to the impact of prior trauma and mental health needs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Crystal A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gabert-Quillen
authors.forename: Arielle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Selya
authors.forename: Douglas L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Delahanty
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012907:Smoking; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: PTSD symptoms; college students; hyperarousal; smoking; trauma