Robert Fox1,2, Philip Hyland1, Andrew N Coogan1, Marylène Cloitre3,4, Joanna McHugh Power1. 1. Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Kildare, Ireland. 2. Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, Education and Innovation in Health Systems (IRIS), School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. 3. National Center for PTSD, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA. 4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Research examining the relationship between loneliness and Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) is scarce, particularly among older adults. CPTSD includes the core symptoms of PTSD along with additional symptoms reflecting "disturbances in self-organisation" (DSO). This study examined the cross-sectional relationships between loneliness (emotional and social loneliness) and CPTSD symptoms (i.e., PTSD and DSO symptoms) in older adults. METHODS: Structural equation modelling was used to examine these relationships in a nationally representative sample of US adults aged 60-70 years (n = 456). RESULTS: Controlling for covariates, emotional loneliness was associated with PTSD (β = 0.31) and DSO (β = 0.57) symptoms whereas social loneliness was only associated with DSO symptoms (β = 0.25). The model explained 35.0% of the variance in PTSD symptoms and 71.3% in DSO symptoms. CONCLUSION: These findings have important implications for treating and understanding PTSD/CPTSD and their correlates among older adults.
OBJECTIVES: Research examining the relationship between loneliness and Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) is scarce, particularly among older adults. CPTSD includes the core symptoms of PTSD along with additional symptoms reflecting "disturbances in self-organisation" (DSO). This study examined the cross-sectional relationships between loneliness (emotional and social loneliness) and CPTSD symptoms (i.e., PTSD and DSO symptoms) in older adults. METHODS: Structural equation modelling was used to examine these relationships in a nationally representative sample of US adults aged 60-70 years (n = 456). RESULTS: Controlling for covariates, emotional loneliness was associated with PTSD (β = 0.31) and DSO (β = 0.57) symptoms whereas social loneliness was only associated with DSO symptoms (β = 0.25). The model explained 35.0% of the variance in PTSD symptoms and 71.3% in DSO symptoms. CONCLUSION: These findings have important implications for treating and understanding PTSD/CPTSD and their correlates among older adults.
Authors: P Hyland; M Shevlin; C R Brewin; M Cloitre; A J Downes; S Jumbe; T Karatzias; J I Bisson; N P Roberts Journal: Acta Psychiatr Scand Date: 2017-07-11 Impact factor: 6.392
Authors: Ephraim S Grossman; Yaakov S G Hoffman; Amit Shrira; Mordechai Kedar; Menachem Ben-Ezra; Mirza Dinnayi; Ari Z Zivotofsky Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2018-11-19 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: Charles W Hoge; Lyndon A Riviere; Joshua E Wilk; Richard K Herrell; Frank W Weathers Journal: Lancet Psychiatry Date: 2014-08-14 Impact factor: 27.083
Authors: V J Felitti; R F Anda; D Nordenberg; D F Williamson; A M Spitz; V Edwards; M P Koss; J S Marks Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 1998-05 Impact factor: 5.043