Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Aggression: The Role of Emotion Regulation

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental disorder that has been associated with increased aggressive behavior. Extant literature demonstrates that emotion regulation (ER) difficulties occur in both PTSD and aggression; however, two models (information processing and I³) of this relationship suggest oppositional roles of ER. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between PTSD symptoms, ER, and aggression in a trauma-exposed civilian sample through the lens of the information processing and I³ models and extend this examination to consider gender and the type of traumatic experience endorsed. Moderation and mediation analyses were used to determine the interactive and indirect effects of trauma and ER on aggression. Alternative mediators and moderators were used to determine the specificity of the model and the direction of the relationship. Findings indicate that, despite the significant relationship between PTSD symptoms and aggression, this relationship was not moderated by ER, inconsistent with the I³ model. However, ER fully mediated the relationship between PTSD and aggression, supporting the information processing model. These results held constant when interchanging the predictor and mediator. Neither trauma type nor gender influenced the indirect effect of ER on PTSD and aggression. ER difficulties do not influence the proclivity to aggress among trauma-exposed individuals, but could act as a link to explain the association between PTSD and aggression. Thus, ER may be a potential treatment target for both PTSD and aggression independently and comorbidly.