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The co-occurrence of posttraumatic symptoms (PTS) and impulsivity is associated with higher levels of risky and self-destructive behaviors and consequent safety and health risks. Trauma-related shame (TRS) may influence the association between PTS and impulsivity such that engaging in impulsive behaviors may serve to cope with emotional distress. Alternatively, TRS may motivate a deliberate consideration of behaviors (i.e., less impulsivity) to prevent further cognitive and emotional distress.The goal of the current study was to examine the influence of TRS on the associations between PTS and impulsivity facets (lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance, negative urgency, positive urgency, sensation seeking).Data were collected from 506 community individuals who endorsed lifetime sexual trauma (Findings indicated that TRS moderated associations between PTS and impulsivity facets of lack of perseverance,Findings suggest that in the context of PTS, TRS may reduce certain forms of impulsivity, potentially as a means to self-protect against further cognitive and emotional distress. Findings have important implications for understanding how individuals regulate and respond to shame in the context of PTS. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

A fast-growing body of literature linking emotion dysregulation to substance use has almost exclusively relied on cross-sectional designs and has generally failed to assess dysregulation stemming from positive emotions. The current study measured the momentary associations between both negative and positive emotion dysregulation and substance use, as well as the moderating role of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Micro-longitudinal momentary data were collected three times per day for 30 days using phone-based interactive voice recording.Northeastern United States.A total of 145 community women (M, age = 40.56, 40.3% white) experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) and using substances were recruited from 2018 until 2020.Momentary surveys assessed negative and positive emotion dysregulation and alcohol, drug, and cigarette use. PTSD diagnosis was derived from a structured diagnostic interview.Between-person relations that remained significant after covariate adjustment and correction for multiple testing were found for negative emotion dysregulation and both number of drinks (internal rate of return [IRR] = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.07, 1.93; β = 0.37) and drug use (OR = 3.78; 95% CI = 1.86, 7.69; β = 1.33), and positive emotion dysregulation and number of cigarettes (OR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.07, 1.82; β = 0.34). Of six interactions tests, PTSD was only shown to moderate the within-person relation between positive emotion dysregulation and drug use, even after controlling for relevant covariates and adjusting for multiple testing (OR = 1.26; 95% CI = 1.04, 1.51; β = 0.23), such that women experiencing intimate partner violence with versus without PTSD were more likely to use drugs when experiencing periods of elevated positive emotion dysregulation.Women experiencing intimate partner violence with higher levels of negative dysregulation relative to others may use more alcohol and be more likely to use drugs. Women experiencing intimate partner violence with higher levels of positive dysregulation relative to others may use more cigarettes. Women experiencing intimate partner violence who also have posttraumatic stress disorder may be more likely to use drugs when experiencing momentary elevated levels of positive emotion dysregulation than those who do not also have posttraumatic stress disorder.

OBJECTIVE Theoretical and empirical evidence links emotional avoidance to the development and maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, few studies have tested whether these findings extend to positive emotional avoidance. Addressing this important gap in the literature, the current study examined the moderating role of PTSD symptom severity in the relation between positive emotional intensity and positive emotional avoidance. METHOD Participants were 465 trauma-exposed veterans recruited from the community (Mage = 38.00, 71.6% male, 69.5% White). RESULTS The interaction between positive emotional intensity and PTSD symptom severity on positive emotional avoidance was significant. Analysis of simple slopes revealed that positive emotional intensity was significantly positively associated with positive emotional avoidance when participants endorsed high, but not low, levels of PTSD symptom severity. CONCLUSIONS Veterans with more severe PTSD symptoms may utilize avoidance strategies in the context of intense positive emotions. These findings may suggest the potential need for addressing positive emotional avoidance in interventions to reduce PTSD symptom severity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Objectives The current study tested whether emotion dysregulation, assessed by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), would predict posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) through anxiety sensitivity (AS). Alternate cognitive-affective mediators (i.e., distress tolerance and intolerance of uncertainty) were explored. Method A total of 259 trauma-exposed community members (ages averaging 37.39; evenly distributed by gender) from a larger clinical trial targeting suicide risk factors completed a clinical interview and self-report questionnaires at baseline, Week-3, and 1-month follow-up appointments. Results AS at Week 3 significantly mediated the relationship between initial emotion dysregulation and 1-month follow-up posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) after controlling for condition and baseline symptoms (β = .07; standard error = 0.03; 95% confidence interval = [0.01, 0.14]). Effects held for one out of six emotion dysregulation subscales. Distress tolerance and intolerance of uncertainty were not significant mediators (ps > .05). Conclusions This study demonstrates that emotion dysregulation may confer maintenance of PTSS through AS. Findings highlight potentially malleable targets for interventions.

Background Research has explored the influence of trauma type on emotion dysregulation and the role of emotion dysregulation in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, it remains unclear whether trauma types differentially impact emotion dysregulation, and whether this in turn contributes to elevated PTSD. The current study tested whether trauma type is related to PTSD symptoms via emotion dysregulation. Methods Trauma-exposed community members (n = 209) completed a semi-structured clinical interview and self-reported on emotion regulation, trauma exposure, PTSD symptoms, and negative affect. Results Interpersonal trauma, sexual assault in particular, is associated with greater emotion dysregulation. Furthermore, emotion dysregulation mediates the effects of trauma type on PTSD symptoms for sexual assault but not other trauma types, and effects remained significant after covarying for negative affectivity. More recent and chronic trauma was not associated with greater emotion dysregulation. Conclusions This study underscores the importance of emotion dysregulation in PTSD development and maintenance. Findings may be used for the development of interventions targeting emotion regulation as a malleable risk factor for PTSD, especially for sexual assault victims.

Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are a debilitating health concern that can develop following sexual assault. One factor central to PTSS is emotion dysregulation. However, little is known about how emotion dysregulation, particularly the dysregulation of positive (versus negative) emotions, relates to the maintenance of PTSS over time. This study aimed to address this gap in the literature by using a micro-longitudinal approach to examine daily reciprocal relations between negative and positive emotion dysregulation and PTSS. Participants were 121 individuals with a history of sexual assault (M