NCJ Number
232243
Journal
Victims & Offenders Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: October-December 2010 Pages: 371-387
Date Published
October 2010
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This study investigated whether gender differences in cognitive appraisals were independent of gender differences in traumatic experiences.
Abstract
To help understand why women are at greater risk than men for developing adverse reactions to trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this study qualitatively explores differences and similarities in the way men and women cognitively appraise their experience as violent crime survivors. Findings reveal differences in the way men and women (1) view the event as traumatic or scary, (2) compare their experience to other life experiences, (3) believe the crime changed their lives, and (4) view the probability that they would eventually experience a violent crime. Differences in the way men and women appraise these experience are linked to post-trauma sequelae. Tables and references (Published Abstract)