Balanced and less traumatized: Balanced time perspective mediates the relationship between temperament and severity of PTSD syndrome in motor vehicle accident survivor sample. (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stolarski, Maciej; Cyniak-Cieciura, Maria
• Is Part Of: Personality and individual differences. Volume 101(2016)
• Page Start: 456
• Page End: 461
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: Posttraumatic stress disorder -- PTSD -- Regulative theory of temperament -- Balanced time perspective -- Trauma exposure -- Motor vehicle accidents; Personality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Personality Development -- Periodicals; Personnalité -- Périodiques; Individualité -- Périodiques; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2016.06.055
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-8869

Abstract

Abstract: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms describe a common chronic and disabling reaction of individuals exposed to extreme stress. The negative influence of PTSD on people's functioning justifies researchers' efforts to define predictors of the disorder and the factors that can prevent the development of PTSD. Existing research exposes a pronounced role of temperamental traits, in addition to the severity of trauma exposure. Experience of the traumatic event and subjective assessment of its consequences may also be influenced by individual differences in the time perspective profile, particularly the indicator of temporal adaptation referred to as balanced time perspective (BTP). The aim of the present research was to establish the relationship between time perspective, trauma exposure and temperament and its influence on the level of PTSD symptoms. The regression analyses showed that briskness, emotional reactivity, BTP and trauma severity were significant predictors of PTSD symptoms and that BTP mediated the relationship between temperament and PTSD. People exposed to more severe trauma who were prone to strong emotional reactions and were less flexible in coping with trauma revealed a negatively biased time perspective, which resulted in the development of PTSD symptoms. Highlights: Individual-difference predictors of PTSD in motor vehicle accidents were investigated. Balanced time perspective (BTP) was hypothesized to be a key factor for PTSD. Briskness, emotional reactivity, BTP and trauma severity predicted PTSD severity. BTP partially mediated the relationship between temperament and PTSD.