Citation

Weiss NH, Tull MT, Gratz KL. Behav. Modif. 2014; 38(6): 914-939.

Affiliation

University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0145445514547957

PMID

25155301

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with a wide range of risky behaviors (e.g., substance use and risky sexual behaviors); however, few studies have examined mechanisms that may underlie risky behaviors in this population. The present study utilized a prospective experimental design to examine the effects of emotion dysregulation and impulsivity on risky behaviors across time. Thirty women with sexual assault-related PTSD were randomly assigned to receive emotion modulation (EM), impulsivity reduction (IR), or healthy living (HL; comparison condition) skills trainings. Participants completed measures of emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, and risky behaviors pre-manipulation and 1-month post-manipulation. Participants in the EM and IR conditions reported a significant reduction in risky behaviors from pre- to post-manipulation relative to the HL condition. Changes in emotion dysregulation from pre- to post-manipulation fully accounted for reductions in risky behaviors over time.

RESULTS provide preliminary experimental support for the role of emotion dysregulation in risky behaviors.

Language: en