Biomedical subjects

Laura E Gibson

Publications and source records attributed to Laura E Gibson.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Posttraumatic stress symptoms and smoking to reduce negative affect: an investigation of trauma-exposed daily smokers.

The present investigation examined the relations among posttraumatic stress symptoms and smoking motives. Participants included 100 daily smokers recruited from the community and university settings who reported exposure to at least one traumatic event that met criterion A for posttraumatic stress disorder. Consistent with prediction, higher levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms were associated with smoking to reduce negative affect; this relation was observed after controlling for variance accounted for by number of cigarettes smoked per day and gender. Results are discussed in terms of the implications of smoking to regulate affect among daily smokers who have been exposed to traumatic events.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Cognitive behavioral therapy for prolonged postdisaster distress.

In this article, we present and illustrate cognitive-behavioral therapy for postdisaster distress. The treatment is for individuals who show more than normal transient stress after disaster and functions as an intermediate step between traditional crisis counseling and longer-term mental health treatments. Thus, it is one part of a larger mental health disaster response and is designed to be implemented no sooner than 60 days post disaster. A clinical case demonstrates its process and technique in a community practice setting.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2006

Affect intensity: association with anxious and fearful responding to bodily sensations.

The present investigation evaluated affect intensity in regard to anxious and fearful responding to a voluntary hyperventilation paradigm. Participants were 90 young adults without a history of Axis I psychopathology or nonclinical panic attacks. The incremental validity of affect intensity was examined relative to gender, negative affectivity, anxiety sensitivity, and anticipatory anxiety. As hypothesized, affect intensity significantly and incrementally predicted the perceived intensity of post-challenge panic-relevant physical and cognitive symptoms but not physiological arousal. Findings are discussed in relation to better understanding the role of affect intensity as a potential risk factor for panic-related problems.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Impact of childhood traumatic events, trauma-related guilt, and avoidant coping strategies on PTSD symptoms in female survivors of domestic violence.

This investigation utilized path analyses to examine the direct and indirect effects of experiences of potentially traumatic events in childhood, trauma-related guilt, and the use of avoidant coping strategies on level of PTSD symptomatology among a sample of female survivors of domestic violence. The results of this investigation indicated that individuals with more extensive histories of potentially traumatic events in childhood were more likely to report the experience of trauma-related guilt after exposure to domestic violence victimization in adulthood. Further, the path model indicated that experiencing trauma-related guilt was associated with greater use of avoidant coping strategies. Trauma-related guilt was related to increased PTSD symptomatology both directly and indirectly through the use of avoidant coping strategies. These findings highlight the importance of attending to guilt-based affective and cognitive reactions, maladaptive coping strategies, and the association between these constructs when treating survivors of relationship violence with multiple exposures to potentially traumatic events.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2005

Acute nicotine withdrawal symptoms and anxious responding to bodily sensations: a test of incremental predictive validity among young adult regular smokers.

Although previous work has found associations between panic and smoking, little research has investigated potential mechanisms by which smoking may contribute to panic problems. The present investigation evaluated the incremental validity of acute nicotine withdrawal symptoms (elicited by an average of 2h of nicotine deprivation) relative to negative affectivity, anxiety sensitivity, and nicotine dependence in predicting anxiety responding to 3-min voluntary hyperventilation. The sample consisted of 90 regular smokers (46 females), as defined by smoking >or= 10 cigarettes per day for at least 1 year, recruited through the general community. Consistent with prediction, greater levels of pre-challenge nicotine withdrawal symptoms uniquely predicted post-challenge intensity of panic symptoms and anxiety relative to other established factors. Findings are discussed in the context of how regular smoking may promote panic symptomotology.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Individual differences among undergraduate women in methods of coping with stressful events: the impact of cumulative childhood stressors and abuse.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study was to determine if a history of greater exposure to different types of adverse and/or abusive experiences in childhood would influence coping strategies used by undergraduate women to deal with new stressful events in young adulthood. METHOD: A sample of 828 women undergraduates from a New England state university participated in this questionnaire study. Disengagement and engagement coping strategies used in response to recent stressors were compared in groups who had none, one, two, or three or more types of adverse and/or abusive childhood experiences (sexual abuse, physical abuse, witnessing domestic violence, having an alcoholic parent, and parental rejection). RESULTS: There was an increased reliance on disengagement methods of coping (wishful thinking, problem avoidance, social withdrawal, and self-criticism) as a function of more extensive child abuse histories. Engagement methods of coping (problem solving, cognitive restructuring, social support, and express-emotions), however, did not show a corresponding decrease as a function of increased exposure to different types of childhood stressors and/or abuse. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that undergraduate women with cumulative adverse and/or abusive childhood histories are particularly at-risk of relying on maladaptive disengagement coping strategies to deal with various new stressors later in life.

Adaptation, Psychological↗