Citation

Holzman JB, Valentiner DP, Hannan SM, Wallace DG, Orcutt HK. Anxiety Stress Coping 2017; 30(6): 609-618.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10615806.2017.1348297

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recognizing that alcohol might affect subsequent processing of trauma-related information, this study examined whether high dose alcohol consumption (HDAC) following a campus mass shooting affected the relation between shooting exposure and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS).

METHODS: Female participants (N = 691) recorded levels of physical exposure to the shooting event, alcohol use, and PTSS 1 month following the shooting event and 8 months later.

RESULTS: No evidence was found to suggest that pre-shooting HDAC moderated the relationship between trauma exposure and PTSS 1 month following the shooting. HDAC in the month following the shooting predicted less resolution of PTSS 8 months later. Specifically, at higher (but not lower) levels of HDAC, shooting exposure was associated with less reduction in PTSS from 1 to 8 months post-trauma. Several alternate explanations were ruled out.

CONCLUSIONS: Less reduction in PTSS seems to occur at high levels of both shooting exposure and HDAC. Theoretical implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Language: en