Interpersonal Functioning and Trauma: The Role of Empathy in Moderating the Association of PTSD and Interpersonal Functioning.
Behav Ther
; 52(5): 1251-1264, 2021 09.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34452677
ABSTRACT
Research demonstrates consistent associations between symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and reductions in interpersonal functioning. Moderators of this association, however, remain relatively unexplored. The current study aimed to examine the extent to which aspects of empathic responding may influence the relation between PTSD symptom dimensions and interpersonal functioning in students exposed to significant trauma. Participants (Nâ¯=â¯94, 85.1% female, 86.2% White/Non-Hispanic) completed an initial screening to assess for trauma exposure and associated symptoms of PTSD. Interpersonal functioning and dimensions of empathic responding were measured using a series of self-report and lab-based tasks. Hierarchical regression models provided evidence for a consistent association between post-trauma arousal-reactivity and reductions in interpersonal functioning. Results also indicated a moderating effect of affective empathy (ßâ¯=â¯-.37, pâ¯=â¯.010, f2â¯=â¯.086). Simple slopes and Johnson-Neyman plots identified an association between arousal-reactivity and functioning at low (ßâ¯=â¯1.57, p < .001, f2â¯=â¯.301) versus high (ßâ¯=â¯.31, pâ¯=â¯.417, f2â¯=â¯.008) levels of empathic response to a positively valenced film. Results offer preliminary support for a potential buffering effect of affective empathy on interpersonal functioning in individuals reporting chronic, trauma-related symptoms.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Trastornos por Estrés Postraumático
Tipo de estudio:
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Behav Ther
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article