Lifetime Trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder Symptoms and Early Adolescence Risk Factors for Poor Physical Health Outcome Among Malaysian Adolescents.

• Main Authors: Yoke Yong, Chen, Siti Raudzah, Ghazali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: BF Psychology
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/35587/1/trauma2.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/35587/; http://ijcrr.com/uploads/3420_pdf.pdf; http://dx.doi.org/10.31782/IJCRR.2021.SP122
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

Introduction: Individuals who experienced traumatic events were more susceptible to non-communicable diseases and adoption of health-harming behaviours. Clearer understanding of the relationship between trauma and PTSD on the risk trajectories of CVD, especially among adolescents are missing in the literature. Objective: This study investigated the associations of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) manifestation and early risk factors for cardiovascular physiological measures, i.e., high blood pressure and heart rate among adolescence. Methods: A total number of 606 adolescents aged 14-19 years old (M=16.9, SD = 1.28) to participate in the present study. Their blood pressure, heart rate and body mass index (BMI) were measured. They were asked to rate their possible trauma experiences and PTSD symptoms via questionnaires. Results: Results showed that PTSD symptoms had a significant effect on blood pressure and heart rate reading. Total PTSD scores and only specific trauma types were significant predictors for the blood pressure and heart rate changes among adolescence. Conclusion: It is concluded that risk factors related to reported associations between trauma, PTSD symptoms, and physiological outcomes among adults might be able to