Post-Trauma Cognitions and Anger: Considering the Effects of Elapsed Time Since Intimate Partner Violence

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Trauma Studies
• Mental Health

Background:

• Post-trauma anger is understudied, especially in interpersonal trauma survivors.
• Existing research suggests a curvilinear link between anger and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if negative post-trauma cognitions about self and world amplify anger expression (inward and outward) with increased time since trauma.
• To explore the relationship between negative cognitions, anger expression, and time elapsed since intimate partner violence (IPV).

Main Methods:

• Moderation analyses were used to examine the interaction between negative cognitions, anger expression, and time since IPV.
• The study included 119 women survivors of IPV.

Main Results:

• Time since IPV exposure moderated the association between negative cognitions and inward anger expression.
• As time since IPV increased, negative cognitions about self and world were significantly linked to increased inward anger.
• This association was not significant for those with less time elapsed since IPV.
• Time did not moderate the link between negative cognitions and outward anger expression.

Conclusions:

• Elapsed time since interpersonal trauma influences how negative cognitions relate to anger expression.
• Understanding the nuances of anger expression (inward vs. outward) is crucial for trauma survivors.
• Negative cognitions may become more strongly associated with inward anger over time post-trauma.