1. Standardized Coefficients (Beta)
Abstract
The Impact of Personality on PTSD Symptoms among Active Duty Female Service Members
Minsu Kim1, Brian C. Kok1, Robert E. Wickham1, Jungho Ryu1
& Lisa M. Brown1
1Palo Alto University
This research focuses specifically on relationships between personality and PTSD among female active duty service members in the US. Due to the distinct personality styles between male and female service members, the different roles/impacts of their personalities on PTSD was initially hypothesized.
Using the secondary dataset of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience Servicemembers (STARRS), this study 1) examined the relationships between personality (introverted or extroverted) and PTSD and 2) suggested a new model for diagnosing PTSD based on personality among female active duty service members.
Study 1: 33 personality items were used to investigate the different impacts of introverted and extroverted personalities and PTSD. Results: Those categorized into the introverted group displayed statistically significantly higher levels of intrusive symptoms comparing to the extroverted group. Study 2: 52 questions were categorized into five personality types, Irritability, Conscientiousness, Vulnerability, Negativity, and Introversion. Results: Conscientiousness was significantly correlated with recent (30 days) PTSD symptoms while it was not significantly correlated with lifetime PTSD symptoms. Moreover, four other personalities, Irritability, Vulnerability, Negativity, and Introversion, significantly predicted both recent and lifetime PTSD symptoms while Conscientiousness did not.
This research suggests a new model for diagnosing PTSD based on 5 personality categories.
Introduction
Results
Table 1
Limitation
This research focuses on how personality influences posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among female active duty service members.
There has been research on the relationship between PTSD and personality traits among male veterans and among the general female population; however, few studies have investigated influences of personality on PTSD symptoms among active duty females.
Since female soldiers display distinct characteristics in personality from both male veterans and female civilians, their PTSD symptoms can be hypothetically distinguishable from those of the other populations.
The present study aimed to examine the impact of personality traits on the presentation of PTSD symptoms among active duty female service members with PTSD.
The average age of 6,518 female soldiers (range 18-48) was years (SD 3.60), and 12.51% (n=813) of the sample screened positive for PTSD using the PCL-C. Out of 813 female soldiers with PTSD, 35.4% (n=288) who did not answer any of the personality questions were excluded.
1. Introverted Vs. Extraverted
Among female soldiers with positive PTSD screens
Introverted personality types had significantly higher levels of intrusive-cluster symptoms (3.43 ± SD 1.33) compared to female soldiers with extroverted personality types (3.16 ± SD 1.31), t(522) = 2.306, p=0.021.
No statistically significant difference
Hyperarousal-cluster symptoms between female soldiers with introverted personality (10.77 ± SD 3.50) and with extroverted personality types (10.66 ± SD 3.11), t(519) = 0.382, p=0.702
Avoidance-cluster symptoms between those with introverted personality types (6.36 ± SD 2.56) and with extroverted personality types (6.12 ± SD 2.40), t(518) = 1.139, p=0.255.
2. The New Five Personality Traits related to PTSD
A hierarchical regression was run to predict PTSD from the new 5 personality traits, such as irritability, conscientiousness, vulnerability, negativity, and introversion. These variable statistically significantly predict PTSD, F(5, 2782) = , p < .0005, R2 = .355.
Irritability, Vulnerability, Negativity, and Introversion added statistically significantly to the prediction ( p < .01) of PTSD symptoms, while Conscientiousness could not predict with PTSD (p > .05).
TRAIT
Matching word
E/I
Being upset without a reason
NEM
upset
Introverted
Often disorganized
disorganized
Little attached to one’s close friend
PEM
unattached
Never enjoy life
disinterested
Easily upset
CON
Extroverted
Often lie
Deceitful
Hit others and get bruises
violent
Easily feel shy
shy
Often feel empty inside
empty
Easily feel hurt
vulnerable
For the new model
57% of the original participants were not included in the second research for a variety of reasons, such as their nonresponse, inapplicability, etc.
Out of 65 questions,
only 33 items for the first research
52 items for the second research
were selectively used while the impact of answering all the questionnaires on the result was not investigated. Therefore, the new model cannot be concluded without being evidenced by further evidence-based research.
IRRITABILITY
CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
VULNERABILITY
NEGATIVITY
INTROVERSION
EXTRAVERSION
OPENNESS
NEUROTICISM
AGREEABLENESS
CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
Conclusion
This study found that personality type can influence the presentation of PTSD symptoms in female soldiers with probable PTSD.
Similar to the results of previous research among male military personnel, personality appears to be related to PTSD symptoms in female active duty service members.
1. Intrusive symptoms are more prominent for those who have the introverted personality type. This finding has implications in the detection and treatment of PTSD among female soldiers with an introverted personality because PTSD severity can be underestimated for the introverted female soldiers due to the difficulty of intrusion detection (high false alarm rate). The results indicate that PTSD symptoms among introverted female soldiers are more difficult to detect compared to extroverted female soldiers.
2. Unlike male active duty service members, measuring conscientiousness is not valid to detect/predict PTSD among female active duty service members. Negativity is more important than vulnerability for female service members while irritability is the single most important personality feature for both genders.
Method
Participants:
Data came from the New Soldier Study (NSS), which is a component of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (STARRS). The present sample included 6,518 female active duty soldiers who recently enlisted in the U.S. Army.
Measures:
Personality was assessed using a composite scale consisting of 65 items that were adapted from existing personality measures (e.g., Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, Widiger Five Factor Model Rating Form, Life Orientation Test). PTSD symptoms were measured using the PTSD Checklist – Civilian Version (PCL-C). The significant differences in PTSD symptoms among female service members were identified using independent t-test and correlations test.
Data Analysis:
Out of 65 items, only 33 items were initially categorized and divided into internalizing and externalizing personality types, based on previous research (Jaksic et al., 2012; Miller et al., 2003; 2004; 2007; 2008; 2012), in order to investigate the impact of personality traits on PTSD symptom manifestation.
Out of 65 items, 13 items, which display low communality (<.4) in factor analysis, were excluded, in order to ensure the reliability of the research on the five new personality traits relating to PTSD.
SPSS, Correlation, Factor Analysis, Hierarchical Regression Model, independent t-test, ANOVA, and Multiple Regression were conducted.
Note. Sample of Categorization of items: NEM: High negative emotionality; PEM: Low positive emotionality; CON: Low levels of constraint in their decision making and behavior; Matching word: a word on a list of adjectives which matches with the word; E/I: Extraversion or Introversion
Table 2
Model 5
Standardized Coefficients (Beta) t
Sig.
Irritability
.506
24.354
.000
Conscientiousness
.027
1.727
.084
Vulnerability
.061
3.166
.002
Negativity
.118
6.494
Introversion
-.045
-2.673
.008
picture retrieved from:
Note. Hierarchical Regression Model: Irritability explains PTSD symptoms the most among female active duty service members while consciousness is not statistically significantly associated with PTSD.