@article{ref1,
title="The cycle of violence: associations between exposure to violence, trauma-related symptoms and aggression-findings from Congolese refugees in Uganda",
journal="Journal of Traumatic Stress",
year="2015",
author="Hecker, Tobias and Fetz, Simon and Ainamani, Herbert and Elbert, Thomas",
volume="28",
number="5",
pages="448-455",
abstract="War-related trauma exposure has been linked to aggression and enhanced levels of community and family violence, suggesting a cycle of violence. Reactive aggression-an aggressive reaction to a perceived threat-has been associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In contrast, appetitive aggression-a hedonic, intrinsically motivated form of aggression-seems to be negatively related to PTSD in offender and military populations. This study examined the associations between exposure to violence, trauma-related symptoms and aggression in a civilian population. In semistructured interviews, 290 Congolese refugees were questioned about trauma exposure, PTSD symptoms, and aggression. War-related trauma exposure correlated positively with exposure to family and community violence in the past month (r =.31, p <.001), and appetitive (r =.18, p =.002) and reactive aggression (r =.29, p <.001). The relationship between war-related trauma exposure and reactive aggressive behavior was mediated by PTSD symptoms and appetitive aggression. In a multiple sequential regression analysis, trauma exposure (β =.43, p <.001) and reactive aggression (β =.36, p <.001) were positively associated with PTSD symptoms, whereas appetitive aggression was negatively associated (β = -.13, p =.007) with PTSD symptoms. Our findings were congruent with the cycle of violence hypothesis and indicate a differential relation between distinct subtypes of aggression and PTSD.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0894-9867",
doi="10.1002/jts.22046",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jts.22046"
}