TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2015//
TI  - The cycle of violence: associations between exposure to violence, trauma-related symptoms and aggression-findings from Congolese refugees in Uganda
JO  - Journal of Traumatic Stress
A1  - Hecker, Tobias
A1  - Fetz, Simon
A1  - Ainamani, Herbert
A1  - Elbert, Thomas
SP  - 448
EP  - 455
VL  - 28
IS  - 5
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 0894-9867
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jts.22046
ID  - ref1
ER  -