Understanding outcomes of traumatic experiences : roles of neuroticism and coping.

Abstract

This study was to better understand how coping and neuroticism influence the negative and enduring potential of a traumatic experience. Traumatic experience has been shown to change individuals' cognitive processes. The hypothesis was supported that veteran males who have endured traumatic experience report more adaptive coping methods than University males. Emotional dispositions influence perception and severity of a traumatic experience, therefore, we hypothesized males scoring high for neuroticism (high-N) would report more maladaptive coping methods than males scoring low for neuroticism (low-N). The hypothesis was supported that high-N males would report more maladaptive coping methods in stressful situations than low-N males. The hypothesis was not supported that high-N males who sought therapy for a traumatic experience would terminate therapy prematurely or report lower life satisfaction at present.