Christina M. Hassija

Female Sexual Victimization Among College Students Assault Severity, Health Risk Behaviors, and Sexual Functioning

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between college women’s sexual victimization experiences, health risk behaviors, and sexual functioning. A sample of 309 college women at a mid-sized Midwestern university completed measures assessing sexual victimization, sexual risk taking, substance use behaviors, sexual desire, sexual functioning, prior sexual experiences, and social desirability. Severity of sexual victimization was measured using a multi-item, behaviorally specific, gender-neutral measure, which was divided into four categories based on severity (none, sexual contact, sexual coercion, rape). Within the sample, 72.8% (n = 225) of women reported at least one experience of sexual victimization since age 16. Results from MANCOVAs and a multinomial logistic regression, controlling for social desirability and prior sexual experience, revealed that sexual victimization among female students was related to increased drug use, problematic drinking behaviors, sexual risk taking, sexual dysfunction, and dyadic sexual desire. In addition, findings indicated that women exposed to more severe forms of sexual victimization (i.e., rape) were most likely to report these risk-taking behaviors and sexual functioning issues. Implications for sexual assault risk reduction programming and treatment are discussed.

Impact of emotional approach coping and hope on PTSD and depression symptoms in a trauma exposed sample of Veterans receiving outpatient VA mental health care services

Abstract The present investigation evaluates the relationship between coping style, dispositional hope, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptom severity in a trauma-exposed Veteran sample. Specifically, we evaluated the adaptive value of emotional avoidant and approach coping strategies and perceptions of hope in a sample of 209 trauma-exposed Veterans receiving outpatient mental health care at a VA facility. Participants completed a life events questionnaire and inventories assessing coping, dispositional hope, and PTSD and depression symptom severity. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted controlling for relevant demographic variables. Greater levels of emotional avoidance and lower levels of emotional expression were significantly associated with increased PTSD and depression symptom severity. Dispositional hope was positively associated with depression symptoms only and perceptions of hope moderated the association between emotional avoidance coping and depression symptoms. Findings highlight the value of emotional coping strategies and perceptions of hope in posttraumatic adjustment. Specifically, employing coping techniques that encourage emotional expression may promote improved adjustment among trauma-exposed individuals, while reduced perceptions of hope and the use of avoidant coping strategies may place individuals at greater risk for depression following exposure to traumatic events.

Numbing and Dysphoria Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans A Review of Findings and Implications for Treatment

Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans experience significant rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related mental health conditions. Understanding how specific PTSD symptomatology affects physical health and psychosocial functioning may be useful in improving the conceptualization of PTSD nosology and informing treatment approaches for this population. Confirmatory factor analytic evidence supports four-factor models of PTSD symptoms that classify emotional numbing and/or dysphoria symptoms as a distinct PTSD symptom cluster, and these symptoms appear to be related to poorer psychological adjustment among returning Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. This review briefly describes current conceptualizations of numbing/dysphoria symptoms of PTSD and summarizes research on the factor structure of PTSD symptoms. Then, the literature on the influence of numbing/dysphoria symptoms on physical and psychological health among these veterans is reviewed, and implications for treatment and directions for future research are presented.

Technological advances in the treatment of trauma: a review of promising practices.

Given the availability of empirically supported practices for addressing posttraumatic stress disorder and other forms of trauma-related distress, the development and implementation of new technology to deliver these treatments is exciting. Technological innovations in this literature aim to expand availability of empirically based intervention, increase treatment adherence and acceptability, and overcome barriers commonly encountered with conventional trauma-focused treatment. Much of the current research on these technological developments consists of brief reviews and case studies of the separate therapy modalities. Although this work serves to document the appeal and utility of these innovations, it does not provide comprehensive information about the host of options available. To that end, the three general categories of technological advances in trauma therapy (i.e., videoconferencing, e-Health, virtual reality) are reviewed here, including information regarding their empirical support and suggestions for future research and clinical practice.

Negative Social Reactions to Assault Disclosure as a Mediator between Self-Blame and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Among Survivors of Interpersonal Assault

The type of causal attributions offered for traumatic life events has been documented as a potential vulnerability factor for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, few investigations have sought to identify the mechanisms by which such explanations are associated with greater posttraumatic distress. One possible factor that may account for the relationship between maladaptive attributional tendencies and PTSD symptoms is the quality of social reactions received from one’s social network upon disclosure. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between self-blaming attributions provided for traumatic events, negative social reactions, and PTSD symptom severity. Undergraduate psychology students (N = 68), who reported previously experiencing interpersonal assault, completed measures assessing their attributions for their assault and the quality of reactions received from members of their social network upon disclosure. Results from a statistical mediational analysis suggest that a self-blame may be associated with poorer psychological adjustment by virtue of negative social reactions. Results of this study further our understanding of risk and resilience among assault survivors and may have significant implications for treatment interventions for individuals with PTSD.

Sexual assault related distress and drinking: the influence of daily reports of social support and coping control

Introduction. A history of sexual assault (SA) is often associated with increased distress and heavy drinking. Ones ability to cope with the distress and seek social support has been associated with drinking more generally. However, SA-related distress, drinking, and the extent to which a woman engages in adaptive coping or seeks social support is known to vary day-to-day. The goal of the present investigation was to examine the moderating influence of perceived coping control and social support on the event-level association between SA-related distress and drinking. Methods. This study included 133 college women with a history of SA who reported recent heavy drinking. Participants provided daily reports of their SA-related distress, perceived coping control, perceived social support, and alcohol consumption every day for 30days. Results. Results of generalized estimating equation models suggest that coping control moderated the association between distress and drinking such that those with less perceived coping control drank more as their SA-related distress increased from their average. Although social support did not moderate between distress and drinking, decreases in perceived social support were associated with more drinking on that day. Conclusions. The results suggest that daily deviations in SA-related distress may influence alcohol consumption more than average levels of distress, especially among women with low coping control. Interventions for women with SA histories should help them build coping skills as well as adequate social support in order to reduce drinking.

Bodily pain and coping styles among four geriatric age groups of women

No research is available regarding the association between coping styles and bodily pain by age-specific sub-groups in non-clinical older populations. To address this research gap, we recruited 317 older women (age 55–105, mainly from minority ethnic backgrounds) and divided our sample into sub-groups by decade. Regression analyses on the total sample and the age group of 65–74 demonstrated that denial and venting were inversely related to pain. Findings for the age groups 55–64 and 75–84 were non-significant. Among women age 85 or older, seeking emotional support was inversely associated with pain, while active coping was related to higher pain reports.

An Examination of Disclosure, Mental Health Treatment use, and Posttraumatic Growth Among College Women Who Experienced Sexual Victimization

ABSTRACT Few investigations have sought to identify factors associated with posttraumatic growth among survivors of sexual victimization. The present study examined the relationship between posttraumatic growth, disclosure, and mental health treatment use following sexual assault. Undergraduate female psychology students (N = 85), who reported a prior history of sexual victimization, completed measures assessing trauma exposure, posttraumatic growth, disclosure, and mental health treatment use. Results revealed that degree of disclosure of the assault to support sources and mental health treatment use following sexual assault was related to increased posttraumatic growth. Findings have valuable implications for treatment interventions for survivors of sexual trauma.

Unmet Mental Healthcare Need and Suicidal Ideation Among U.S. Veterans

INTRODUCTION Suicide prevention remains a national priority, especially among vulnerable populations. With increasing trends in suicide among Veterans, understanding the underlying factors associated with such an outcome is imperative. In this study, the association between unmet mental healthcare need and suicidal ideation among U.S. Veterans was evaluated. METHODS The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2008-2013, was used to identify those with mental illness, resulting in a total sample of 2,015 Veterans. Data were analyzed in July 2015. Survey-weighted descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted with p<0.05 used to establish significance. RESULTS Sixteen percent of Veterans reported unmet mental healthcare need and 18% had past-year suicidal ideation. After adjusting for confounders, unmet mental healthcare need was associated with increased likelihood of suicidal ideation (AOR=4.11) in the study population. Other characteristics, such as participating in a governmental assistance program and alcohol dependency in the past year, demonstrated 66% and 103% increased odds of suicidal ideation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Unmet mental healthcare need is a critical aspect of suicidal ideation among Veterans. Improved access to care for such at-risk populations through means of integrated care is needed to ensure reduced burden of suicide among Veterans.

Brief Report: Symptoms of PTSD, Coping Strategies, and Social Adjustment among Survivors of Early Life Interpersonal Trauma

Dysphoria symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been associated with impairments in social functioning; however, this relationship has been unexamined among interpersonal trauma populations. A sample of 303 women with a history of early life interpersonal trauma completed measures of PTSD severity, coping, and social functioning. Results revealed that dysphoria symptoms had a strong and unique association with total social adjustment and social functioning (i.e., social activities). Active coping significantly mediated the relationship between dysphoria symptoms and total social adjustment, and active coping and seeking emotional support significantly mediated the relationship between dysphoria symptoms and social functioning. Findings elucidate variants of coping that might compound impaired social functioning and highlight the value of integrating coping skills into PTSD interventions.