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Exposure to traumatic events and experiences: aetiological relationships with personality function
Kerry L Jang1, Murray B Stein, Steven Taylor
1Division of Behavioural Science, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 2A1. kjang@unixg.ubc.ca
Psychiatry Research
|September 23, 2003
Summary
Genetic factors influence trauma exposure risk through heritable personality traits. These personality characteristics partially explain why individuals experience certain traumatic events, particularly violent assaults.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Behavioral Genetics
- Trauma Studies
Background:
- Traumatic event exposure is influenced by genetic factors.
- Heritability of trauma exposure differs by trauma type.
- Personality traits, not trauma itself, are likely inherited, affecting hazardous situation risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify personality variables linked to trauma exposure.
- Quantify the genetic mediation of personality-trauma relationships.
- Investigate the heritability of violent assaultive traumatic event exposure.
Main Methods:
- Utilized multiple regression analysis.
- Analyzed data from 406 twin pairs (222 MZ, 184 DZ) from the general urban population.
- Calculated genetic correlation coefficients to assess mediation.
Main Results:
- Antisocial personality traits (juvenile antisocial behavior, self-harm, Psychoticism) and openness to experience predicted violent assaultive trauma.
- Genetic factors partially mediated the link between personality and trauma exposure.
- Genetic correlations ranged from 0.14 to 0.36, explaining 5-11% of the personality-trauma correlation.
Conclusions:
- Heritable personality characteristics contribute to the likelihood of experiencing certain traumatic events.
- Genetic predispositions in personality partially explain individual differences in trauma exposure.
- Findings highlight the interplay between inherited personality traits and vulnerability to trauma.