How Personality Affects Vulnerability among Israelis and Palestinians following the 2009 Gaza Conflict

Abstract

Can the onset of PTSD symptoms and depression be predicted by personality factors and thought control strategies? A logical explanation for the different mental health outcomes of individuals exposed to trauma would seem to be personality factors and thought control strategies. Trauma exposure is necessary but not sufficient for the development of PTSD. To this end, we assess the role of personality traits and coping styles in PTSD vulnerability among Israeli and Palestinian students amid conflict. We also determine whether gender and exposure level to trauma impact the likelihood of the onset of PTSD symptoms. Five questionnaires assess previous trauma, PTSD symptoms, demographics, personality factors and thought control strategies, which are analyzed using path analysis. Findings show that the importance of personality factors and thought control strategies in predicting vulnerability increases in the face of political violence: the higher stress, the more important the roles of personality and thought control strategies. Thought control strategies associated with introverted and less emotionally stable personality-types correlate positively with higher levels of PTSD symptoms and depression, particularly among Palestinians. By extension, because mental health is key to reducing violence in the region, PTSD reduction in conflict zones warrants rethinking.

Beliefs About Traumatic Memories, Thought Control Strategies, and the Impact on PTSD Symptoms After a Natural Disaster

“…Greater PTSD symptom severity was also associated with greater use of the strategy reappraisal, suggesting it was a maladaptive strategy in the current sample. This is in line with previous research (Canetti et al, 2016; Scarpa et al, 2009; Meiser-Stedman et al, 2014; Valdez and Lilly, 2012; Wilson and Scarpa, 2012). Indeed, Wells and Sembi (2004a) note negative appraisal as a maladaptive strategy in the metacognitive model of PTSD.…”

The metacognitive model of post‐traumatic stress disorder and metacognitive therapy for post‐traumatic stress disorder: A systematic review

“…In this review, punishment was positively associated with and predicted PTSD symptoms (Bennett et al, 2009; Roussis & Wells, 2006). This is consistent with several studies on PTSD and punishment that did not directly focus on the metacognitive model in their research (Canetti et al, 2016; Meiser‐Stedman et al, 2014; Scarpa et al, 2009; Valdez & Lilly, 2012; Wilson & Scarpa, 2012). Further, we found that worry was associated with and predicted greater PTSD symptom severity (Bennett et al, 2009; Roussis & Wells, 2008; Wisco et al, 2013) and metacognitive beliefs (Fergus & Bardeen, 2017).…”

“…However, the relationship between worry and PTSD symptoms was not found across all studies (Bennett & Wells, 2010). This was coherent with research using the TCQ that showed worry had a medium effect on PTSD symptoms (Seligowski et al, 2015) and has been associated with and predicted PTSD symptoms (Canetti et al, 2016; Scarpa et al, 2009; Valdez & Lilly, 2012; Wilson & Scarpa, 2012). Meiser‐Stedman et al (2014), however, did not find an association between worry and stress symptoms, or PTSD diagnosis, 6 months after trauma in a sample of adolescents.…”

“…with and predicted PTSD symptoms (Canetti et al, 2016;Scarpa et al, 2009;Valdez & Lilly, 2012;Wilson & Scarpa, 2012). Meiser-Stedman et al (2014), however, did not find an association between worry and stress symptoms, or PTSD diagnosis, 6 months after trauma in a sample of adolescents.…”

“…The study by Roussis and Wells (2006) did not find a negative association between reappraisal and PTSD symptom severity across all measures used (Bennett et al, 2009). In the wider PTSD literature, reappraisal has been differentially found to have negative (Aase et al, 2018; Boden et al, 2012; Jenness et al, 2016) and positive (Canetti et al, 2016; Meiser‐Stedman et al, 2014; Scarpa et al, 2009; Valdez & Lilly, 2012; Wilson & Scarpa, 2012) associations with PTSD symptom severity, while Seligowski et al's (2015) meta‐analysis found that reappraisal did not have any effect on post‐traumatic stress symptoms. Wells and Sembi (2004a) have described negative appraisal as a maladaptive strategy in the metacognitive model of PTSD, and it is possible, therefore, that the varying findings across the literature regarding the association between reappraisal and PTSD symptoms may be due to the helpfulness of this strategy being dependent upon whether the thoughts are reappraised as positive or negative in nature.…”