Fear of anxiety as a partial mediator of the relation between trauma severity and PTSD symptoms

Authors

Erin T. Reuther, Laboratoryfor Anxiety, Phobia, and Internalizing Disorder Studies, Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. evtarcza@gmail.com
Thompson E. Davis
Russell A. Matthews
Melissa S. Munson
Amie E. Grills-Taquechel

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2010

Abstract

Fear of anxiety has previously been found to be a predictor of overall symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The current exploratory study examines the relationship between fear of anxiety and symptoms of PTSD in a sample of adults exposed to Hurricane Katrina. Fear of anxiety was found to partially mediate the relationship between the severity of trauma and the severity of PTSD. Further, this mediation was found to operate differently by gender, with the mediation holding true for men but not for women. For both men and women, fear of anxiety was positively correlated with PTSD symptoms.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Journal of traumatic stress

First Page

519

Last Page

22

Recommended Citation

Reuther, E. T., Davis, T. E., Matthews, R. A., Munson, M. S., & Grills-Taquechel, A. E. (2010). Fear of anxiety as a partial mediator of the relation between trauma severity and PTSD symptoms. Journal of traumatic stress, 23 (4), 519-22. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20549