Date of Award
6-2013
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Amy E. Naugle
Second Advisor
Dr. Scott T. Gaynor
Third Advisor
Dr. C. Richard Spates
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Paul Metler
Keywords
post traumatic stress disorder, prevention, mindfulness
Abstract
The current study investigated the ability of a one-session computerized mindfulness intervention to mitigate posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-like symptoms in response to a trauma analogue. Ninety-two participants were randomly assigned to either mindfulness training or no treatment. Participants assigned to the mindfulness training completed a 1-hour computerized mindfulness training and practiced their skills for 1 week. All participants were exposed to an analogue for real-life trauma and were assessed at 1- and 2-week follow-up. Participants assigned to the mindfulness condition exhibited significantly lower levels of PTSD-like symptoms at 2-week follow-up in comparison to the no treatment condition. In addition, participants assigned to the mindfulness condition exhibited more acting with awareness and non-reactivity, and less experiential avoidance and state anxiety. However, contrary to initial hypotheses, participants assigned to the mindfulness condition did not exhibit lower levels of peritraumatic dissociation, and peritraumatic dissociation was the strongest predictor of PTSD symptoms at 1- and 2-week follow-up.
Access Setting
Dissertation-Open Access
Recommended Citation
Blankenship, Abby E., "A Prospective Examination of Mindfulness Training on the Mitigation of Postraumatic Stress Symptoms" (2013). Dissertations. 161.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/161