Sandra L. Shallcross

Perceived past, present, and future control and adjustment to stressful life events

Perceived control is a central construct in psychology and is key to understanding individual differences in poststress outcomes (Frazier, Berman, & Steward, 2001). The goals of the current studies (using 4 samples of undergraduate students, total N = 1,421) were to examine the relations between different aspects of perceived control and poststress outcomes and to differentiate perceived control over specific events from related constructs (i.e., general control beliefs, coping strategies). To accomplish these goals, we first developed a new measure of perceived past, present, and future control over stressful life events. The data supported the content validity, factor structure, internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and convergent and discriminant validity of the new measure. Consistent with the temporal model of control (Frazier et al., 2001), these 3 forms of control had very different relations with adjustment. Present control was consistently related to lower distress levels in cross-sectional, longitudinal, and prospective analyses. Present control also predicted outcomes beyond the effects of general control beliefs and coping strategies. Past and future control had nonsignificant or positive relations with distress, although future control was associated with better outcomes (i.e., course grades) when the stressor was controllable. Thus, our measure can be used to assess the relations between perceived past, present, and future control and outcomes across a range of stressors. Because the relations between these 3 forms of control and outcomes differ markedly, measures that combine these aspects of control hinder the understanding of the important role of perceived control in adjustment to stress.

Beyond Criterion A1: The Effects of Relational and Non-Relational Traumatic Events

Trauma research has historically focused on Criterion A1 traumas, neglecting many other negative interpersonal events that have been shown to lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; S. L. Anders, P. A. Frazier, & S. Frankfurt, 2011). Trauma research has also focused primarily on PTSD and neglected other important outcomes, such as relationship functioning. This study aimed to assess a broader range of events, including many Criterion A1 interpersonal events; assess the cumulative impact of event exposure; and examine the relation between event exposure and a broad range of outcomes, including relationship functioning. A sample of 181 undergraduate students completed measures assessing exposure to a broad range of events, their worst lifetime event, and current psychological (e.g., psychological distress) and relationship (e.g., partner trust) functioning. Results suggested that non-Criterion A1 relational events were very common in our sample. The number of lifetime relational events experienced, whether Criterion A1 or non-Criterion A1, was strongly and consistently associated with all outcomes. The number of lifetime Criterion A1 non-relational events experienced was significantly associated with current PTSD symptoms but was not associated with other mental health and relationship outcomes. No differences were found between Criterion A1 relational, non-Criterion A1 relational, and Criterion A1 non-relational worst events on any of the mental health or relationship measures. Implications for further research and interventions are discussed.

Social Causation Versus Social Erosion: Comparisons of Causal Models for Relations Between Support and PTSD Symptoms

Social support is a robust correlate of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and of general psychological distress (Ozer, Best, Lipsey, & Weiss, 2003). The nature of the causal relationship between support and PTSD remains the subject of debate, with 2 models, social erosion and social causation, often used to explain findings. Despite extensive research using these models, no studies of which we are aware have included tests of both models within the same series of analyses, across more than 2 time points, in veterans. These competing models were tested in a sample of National Guard soldiers (N = 521) who completed measures of perceived social support and the PTSD Checklist-Military version (Weathers, Litz, Herman, Huska, & Keane, 1993) at 3 months, 15 months, and 27 months following a combat deployment to Iraq. Analyses were run separately for overall PTSD symptoms and the PTSD components of intrusion, trauma-avoidance, dysphoria, and hyperarousal. Both the social erosion (βs ranging from -.10 to -.19) and social causation (βs ranging from -.08 to -.13) hypotheses were supported. Results suggested PTSD-specific symptom dimensions may both erode and be influenced by social support, whereas general psychological distress erodes social support. Implications for clinical intervention and research are discussed.

Further Development of the Temporal Model of Control.

The temporal model of control (Frazier, Berman, & Steward, 2001) posits that different temporal aspects of control (i.e., past, present, and future) have markedly different relations with adjustment and need to be clearly distinguished from each other. The Perceived Control over Stressful Events Scale (PCOSES; Frazier, Keenan, et al., 2011) was recently developed to assess these different aspects of control and to advance understanding of the role of perceived control in adjustment to stressful life events. The goals of the 2 studies presented here were to expand the temporal model of control by developing a new subscale of the PCOSES and to gather additional evidence regarding the temporal model. In Study 1, we developed a new future likelihood subscale and found evidence for the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity of its scores in a sample of undergraduate students (N = 201). In Study 2, we confirmed the 4-factor structure of the PCOSES with the new future likelihood subscale using confirmatory factor analysis in another sample of undergraduates (N = 1,084). Study 2 also provided additional evidence, consistent with the temporal model, that the PCOSES subscales were differentially related to distress and other forms of adjustment (e.g., physical health) and that present control and future likelihood were associated with less event-related distress after controlling for 4 known correlates of distress (e.g., social support). Implications for counseling psychology research and practice are discussed.

Social resources mediate the relations between attachment dimensions and distress following potentially traumatic events.

Insecure adult attachment dimensions are consistently related to poorer posttrauma adjustment, but these relations have rarely been examined prospectively or across a wide range of potentially traumatic events. In addition, the factors mediating these relations are not yet fully understood. Therefore, the first aim of this study was to assess whether anxious and avoidant attachment dimensions assessed preevent would predict changes in adjustment (e.g., distress) following a broad range of potentially traumatic events. The second aim was to determine whether postevent social resources mediated the relations between attachment dimensions and postevent adjustment. Undergraduate students (N = 1,084) completed preevent measures of attachment dimensions and psychological distress at Time 1 (T1); 73% (n = 789) completed a follow-up survey 2 months later assessing exposure to potentially traumatic events and social resources (Time 2; T2). Those who reported experiencing a potentially traumatic event between T1 and T2 and who completed a final follow-up survey assessing distress 2 months after T2 (Time 3) constituted the sample for the present analyses (n = 174). Individuals with more attachment avoidance and anxiety had greater increases in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and general psychological distress. These relations were mediated by social resources (i.e., positive and negative support, social withdrawal) at T2 such that anxious and avoidant attachment dimensions were associated with having fewer social resources following a potentially traumatic event, which in turn was associated with reporting more distress. Implications for research and practice with individuals exposed to potentially traumatic events are discussed.

Buffering the Responses of Avoidantly Attached Romantic Partners in Strain Test Situations

Strain tests are unique contexts that have important implications for relationships, but they have rarely been studied in social interactions. We investigate how more avoidant individuals (responders) react when their romantic partners (askers) request cooperation with an important plan/goal that requires a major sacrifice from responders. As predicted, more avoidant responders were less accommodating when asked to sacrifice and showed drops in trust and commitment following the strain test discussion. However, certain asker behaviors-expressing confidence that the responding partner will facilitate the request, and acknowledging their sacrifices in doing so-led more avoidant responders to react more positively during and after the strain test discussions. Showing responsiveness, another positive asker behavior, promoted growth in trust and commitment, but it did not help more avoidant responders react more positively to the askers goal. Blending key principles of interdependence and attachment theory, this is the first behavioral observation study to identify the specific partner behaviors that help highly avoidant people respond constructively in strain test situations and to suggest how avoidant partners can become more trusting and committed in their romantic relationships. (PsycINFO Database Record

Mediators of the relation between sexual victimization and distress: Comparison to bereavement.

Objective: The purposes of this research were (a) to examine relationship quality and neuroticism as mediators of the relation between past sexual victimization and current distress in 2 samples of college students and (b) to examine the specificity of the mediated effects by assessing whether these variables also mediated the relation between the most common potentially traumatic event in both samples (past bereavement) and current distress. This study improved on prior research by using longitudinal data, assessing multiple mediators, assessing specificity of mediated effects, and replicating results across 2 samples. Method: Participants in both studies were undergraduate students in psychology courses (Ns = 1,528 and 1,084, respectively). In both studies, sexual victimization, bereavement and the 2 mediators (relationship quality and neuroticism) were assessed at baseline, and distress was assessed at baseline and 2 months later using standard measures. Results: Structural equation modeling was used to assess the indirect (mediated) effects of sexual victimization and bereavement on later distress through relationship quality and neuroticism, controlling for baseline distress. In Study 1, the indirect effects of sexual victimization on distress through relationship quality and neuroticism were both significant. In Study 2, only the indirect effects through neuroticism were significant. None of the indirect effects were significant for bereavement, suggesting that the mediators were specific to sexual victimization. Conclusions: Neuroticism was a consistent mediator of the relation between lifetime sexual victimization and current distress, suggesting that it may be an important target of intervention for those with a history of sexual victimization.

Using reinforcement sensitivity to understand longitudinal links between PTSD and relationship adjustment.

There is limited research testing longitudinal models of how posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity leads to impaired relationship adjustment. The present study evaluated 2 potential mechanisms among a longitudinal sample of National Guard soldiers deployed to the Iraq War: (1) sensitivity to cues associated with punishment within intimate relationships and (2) sensitivity to cues associated with incentives in intimate relationships. Participants were surveyed by mail 1 year after an extended 16-month combat deployment and again 2 years later. Using a cross-lagged panel analysis with 2 mediators (relationship-specific threat and incentive sensitivity), findings indicated Time 1 PTSD symptom severity significantly eroded relationship adjustment over time through greater sensitivity to cues of relationship-related punishment, but not through incentive sensitivity. Additionally, findings indicated sensitivity to cues of relationship-related threats maintains symptoms of PTSD while sensitivity to cues of relationship-related incentives maintains relationship adjustment. Finally, PTSD symptoms significantly predicted erosion of relationship adjustment over time; however, associations from relationship adjustment to changes in PTSD severity over time were nonsignificant. Findings are discussed within the context of reinforcement sensitivity theory and emotional processing theory of PTSD.