A prospective investigation of emotion dysregulation as a moderator of the relation between posttraumatic stress symptoms and substance use severity

Authors

Matthew T. Tull, University of Mississippi Medical CenterFollow
Joseph R. Bardeen, Auburn University Main CampusFollow
David DiLillo, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Terri Messman-Moore, Miami University, OhioFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2015

Citation

TULLA ET AL. , JOURNAL OF ANXIE TY DISORDERS 29 ( JANUARY 2015)

Abstract

Despite strong evidence for an association between the experience of posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms and substance use, little is known about the particular individuals most at risk for prob-lematic substance use in response to PTS symptoms. Consequently, the goal of this study was to conduct a prospective investigation of the moderating role of emotion dysregulation (assessed through self-report and behavioral measures) in the relation between PTS symptoms and substance use 8 months later within a sample of 106 young adult women. No main effect of PTS symptoms on substance use was found. Instead, PTS symptoms were associated only with later substance use in the context of heightened emotion dysregulation. Results provide support for emotion dysregulation as a key factor that may increase risk for substance use among women experiencing PTS symptomsand highlight a target for future interventions aimed at reducing risk for the development of mala-daptive behaviors stemming from PTS symptoms.