Posttraumatic stress symptoms and well-being following relationship dissolution: Past trauma, alexithymia, suppression

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Psychiatric Quarterly

Publication Date

1-1-2014

Abstract

To investigate whether posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from past trauma, alexithymia and suppression would impact on the experience of Posttraumatic Stress symptoms (PTSS) and psychological well-being following romantic relationship dissolution. One hundred and eighty-nine participants completed questionnaires measuring PTSD, alexithymia, suppression, PTSS and psychological well-being. The results showed that following relationship dissolution, higher levels of intrusion and avoidance (PTSS) and lower levels of psychological well-being were associated with PTSD from past trauma. Difficulty describing feelings was associated negatively with intrusion; difficulty identifying feelings was associated positively with psychological well-being. Suppression was associated negatively with avoidance. To conclude, PTSD from past traumas was related to PTSS symptoms and poor psychological well-being. Alexithymia and suppression were also related to the above outcomes but in a symptom-specific manner. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media.

ISSN

0033-2720

Publisher

Kluwer Academic/Human Sciences Press Inc.

Volume

85

Issue

2

First Page

155

Last Page

176

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Keywords

Alexithymia, Avoidance, Intrusion, Posttraumatic stress disorder, Psychological well-being, Relationship dissolution, Suppression

Scopus ID

84899906871

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

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