NCJ Number
212067
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 20 Issue: 5 Dated: October 2005 Pages: 589-598
Date Published
October 2005
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study assessed the impact of traumatic experiences and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms on anger, aggression, and violence among civilian male college students.
Abstract
A sample of 299 students, faculty, and staff (211 men and 88 women) from the campus of the University of Massachusetts Boston completed questionnaire packets. From this larger sample, a male trauma group (n=32) and a male nontrauma group (n=40) were selected. The sample was diverse across racial categories and had a mean age of 25.27. Individuals in the trauma group reported experiencing one or more of the following events: physical assault without a weapon, assault with a weapon, and sexual assault (rape). PTSD symptoms and their severity were measured with the civilian version of the PTSD Checklist. The State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory measured anger and anger expression; the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory measured anger/hostility and aggression; and the Conflict Tactics Scale measured interpersonal aggression and violence. The men with trauma-related symptoms of PTSD reported significantly greater anger and hostility and significantly more aggressive/violent acts than did men without trauma exposure or PTSD symptoms. These results parallel findings that have contrasted male combat veterans with and without PTSD and are congruent with findings of trauma histories and PTSD symptoms in clinical samples of violent men. Although the levels of anger, aggression, and violence were less severe than those found for male veterans with PTSD, the men in the current trauma group reported committing more than twice as many acts of aggression and violence in the context of a romantic relationship compared to their nontrauma counterparts. The findings suggest that treatment following a traumatic event should include a focus on addressing anger and hostility. 2 tables and 34 references