Date of Award
12-1-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in Psychology
First Advisor
Sarah A Bilsky
Second Advisor
Laura Drislane
Third Advisor
John Young
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
The comorbidity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) is well documented and associated with elevated risk of aggression and suicidality among certain populations. However, no research to date has examined these associations among adolescents. Using data from the National Comorbidity Survey-Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A), the present study examined whether the presence of AUD was associated with greater outward aggression, suicidal ideation, and attempts, and whether these associations differed across race/ethnicity, in a weighted sample of 737,996 adolescents with PTSD (10.3% Hispanic, 16.4% Black, 73.3% White). AUD presence was significantly associated with higher odds of breaking items, attacking others, and threatening harm. The association between AUD and breaking items was significantly stronger among Hispanic and Black adolescents, threatening harm was significantly higher among Hispanic adolescents, and attacking others was significantly lower among Hispanic adolescents compared to White adolescents. No significant differences were observed for attacking others and threatening harm among Black adolescents compared to White adolescents. No meaningful associations were observed for suicidal ideation or attempts. Findings indicate that comorbid AUD is an important risk factor for outward aggression among adolescents with PTSD and that the magnitude of aggression-related associations varies by race/ethnicity. Further research is needed to explore more directly how AUD contributes to different forms of aggression among adolescents with PTSD and to identify mechanisms underlying racial and ethnic differences in these associations.
Recommended Citation
Armstrong, Gabrielle, "Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Associations between Alcohol Use Disorder, Aggression, and Suicidality among Adolescents with PTSD" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3503.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/3503