Risk factors predict post-traumatic stress disorder differently in men and women
2008

Gender Differences in PTSD Risk Factors

Sample size: 149 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Christiansen Dorte M, Elklit Ask

Primary Institution: Department of Psychology, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark

Hypothesis

There are gender differences in the predictive power of well established PTSD risk factors.

Conclusion

Gender differences in the predictive value of social support on PTSD appear to be very complex, and no clear conclusions can be made based on the two studies included in this article.

Supporting Evidence

  • Women develop PTSD more often than men despite men experiencing more traumatic events.
  • Anxiety predicted PTSD in men, but not in women, while depression was a better predictor for women.
  • Dissociation was a stronger predictor for PTSD in women than in men in the explosion sample.

Takeaway

This study found that men and women experience different risk factors for PTSD, with some factors being more important for one gender than the other.

Methodology

The study analyzed PTSD risk factors in two samples: one from an explosion incident and another from a stabbing incident, using questionnaires to measure various psychological factors.

Potential Biases

The study may not generalize to more diverse populations due to its limited demographic scope.

Limitations

The findings are based on samples from two geographical regions in Denmark and primarily consist of white, middle-class participants.

Participant Demographics

The sample included 149 participants, with a mean age of 50.2 years, consisting of 51% women and 49% men.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p ≤ 0.05

Statistical Significance

p ≤ 0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1744-859X-7-24

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