Honors Theses

Date of Award

2018

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Danielle Maack

Relational Format

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between posttraumatic stress symptoms, nonsuicidal self-injury, emotion regulation, and posttraumatic growth in college students. One-hundred and fifty-three participants, aged 18-57, completed self-report measures about their experiences with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), emotion regulation (ER), posttraumatic growth (PTG), and potentially traumatic events (PTEs). In line with hypotheses, results indicated a significant positive correlation between PTSS and both NSSI and PTG. Contrary to predictions, no significant relation was seen between ER and PTG and ER did not moderate the relationship between PTSS and PTG. A post hoc correlational analysis assessing potential trauma categories with relation to NSSI demonstrated that experiencing sexual assault, other unwanted sexual advance, and non-specific other events had a significant positive relation with NSSI. Overall, this study contributes to the literature replicating a relation between PTSS, NSSI and PTG. However, with findings from this sample not showing a relationship between ER and PTG or supporting the moderation effect of ER with PTSS and PTG more research is needed to further understanding in this area.

Accessibility Status

Searchable text

Included in

Psychology Commons

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