Science Source

Reactive aggression and posttraumatic stress in adolescents affected by Hurricane Katrina

States that researchers examining mental health problems in youth after a significant disaster have traditionally focused on the presence of internalizing problems such as anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms
Tests a theoretical model illustrating a potential pathway to reactive aggression through exposure to Hurricane Katrina in 166 adolescents recruited from high schools on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi
Results support an association between exposure to Katrina and reactive aggression via posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and poorly regulated emotion
Finds that that girls reported experiencing more problems regulating their emotional responses than boys
Finds that minority participants reported experiencing higher levels of traumatic hurricane exposure, related posttraumatic stress symptoms, and direct life threat than Caucasian participants
Results indicate that hurricane exposure, PTSD symptoms, and poorly regulated emotion are associated with reactive aggression even after controlling for proactive aggression