Gender Differences in the Prediction of Acute Stress Disorder From Peritraumatic Dissociation and Distress Among Victims of Violent Crimes.

Peritraumatic dissociation and distress are strong predictors of acute stress disorder (ASD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) development. However, there is limited data concerning gender differences in these relations, particularly among victims of violent crimes (VVC). The objective of this study is to examine whether peritraumatic dissociation and distress predict the number of ASD symptoms differently for men and women VVC. In all, 162 adults (97 women, M age = 39.6 years), 63% of whom experienced physical assaults, completed the Acute Stress Disorder Interview, the Peritraumatic Dissociative Experience Questionnaire, and the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory. Analyses included t tests and multiple hierarchical regressions models controlling for known PTSD risk factors. The regression model showed dissociation and distress to be significant predictors of ASD for both men and women (ß = .349 and ß =.312 respectively; all p < .001). A significant three-way interaction was also observed between peritraumatic distress (PDI), past potentially traumatic experiences, and gender. In simple slopes analyses, the combination of high levels of PDI and of a high number of past potentially traumatic events were associated with greater risk of ASD in men only (b = 3.78, p < .001). However, women experienced greater PDI, t(157) = 5.844, p = .005, than men, and elevated distress was associated with more ASD symptoms independently of past traumatic events. Gender differences were revealed as a function of past potentially traumatic experiences. There is a cumulative impact of past potential traumas and current distress that predicts ASD in men, while in women, it contributes to ASD via increased distress.

Trait Hostility and Acute Inflammatory Responses to Stress in the Laboratory.

Hostility has been associated with higher basal levels of inflammation. The present study evaluated the association of hostility with acute stress-induced changes in inflammatory activity. One hundred and ninety-nine healthy men and women, aged 19-64 years, were exposed to a stress protocol involving four interpersonal stressors. Participants completed the Cook-Medley Hostility questionnaire and provided two blood samples for the measurement of inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, Il-6, MPO, TNF-α, MCP-1, Il-8, Il-10, and Il-18), prior to and following exposure to a standardized stress protocol. In univariate analyses, hostility was associated with significantly higher TNF-α, but lower Il-8 and Il-18 values post-stress, though only Il-8 remained significant after controlling for baseline differences. In multivariate analyses, a significant Age by Hostility interaction emerged for Il-6, while sex moderated the relation between hostility and Il-10 reactivity. Following stress, hostility was associated with greater pro-inflammatory Il-6 activity among younger individuals and to decreased anti-inflammatory Il-10 activity in women. Future research is needed to replicate these findings and to evaluate their implication for disease.

The relation between hostility and concurrent levels of inflammation is sex, age, and measure dependent.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hostility may be associated with greater systemic inflammation. However, contradictory evidence exists. Certain individuals or dimensions of hostility may be more susceptible to these effects. Main and interactive effects of hostility with sex and/or age were evaluated on markers of inflammation, independently of traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease. METHODS: 199 healthy men (81) and women (118), aged 20-64 years (M=41 ± 11 years) were recruited. Hostility was assessed using the Cook-Medley Hostility Inventory (CMHo) and ecological momentary assessments (EMA) of quarrelsome behavior and angry affect in daily living. Blood samples were drawn to measure inflammatory activity (Il-6, TNF-α, hsCRP, Il-8, Il-10, Il-18, MCP-1) and lipid oxidation (Myeloperoxidase; MPO). Correlations and hierarchical regression analyses were performed controlling for pertinent behavioral, psychological, medical, and socio-demographic factors. RESULTS: Significant univariate associations emerged between CMHo and Il-6, TNF-α, MCP-1 (p<.05). Hierarchical regressions showed interactions of hostility with sex (Il-6, TNF-α; p<.05) and age (hsCRP, Il-6, TNF-α; p<.05). For example, in simple slope analyses, hostility was positively related to TNF-α in women (b=0.009, p=0.006) but not men. Greater hostility was also related to greater Il-6 levels among younger women (b=. 027, p=0.000). CONCLUSION: Hostility, particularly cynical hostility, may be detrimental to (younger) women. The TNF-α, Il-6, CRP triad appears vulnerable to psychological and behavioral factors, and may be one mechanism by which cynical hostility (CMHo) contributes to increased cardiovascular risk in women. Prospective research is needed to verify this.