Journal Article Summary
Section 1: Data File Description
The journal article analyses the sex-specific risk of attracting traumatic events and post-traumatic stress disorder. There is an indication that female as compared to their counterpart were more likely to experience post-traumatic disorders. On the other hand, these females participants have higher risks on matters relating to sexual abuse and family violence. In addition, men are at higher risks of having nonsexual incidents, injury due to a disaster such as fire and war. Therefore, sex is one of a dominant factor in explaining the differences between the risk to exposure to specific types of PTE and PTSD.
The article has various specified variables, which includes sex differences, posttraumatic stress disorder, and gender. PTSD is defined as the situation where individuals have anxiety caused by a traumatic and the symptoms include trauma, hyperarousal, avoidance, and numbing. Sex is viewed as biological traits of male and female. Gender is a set of psychological and social constructs. The data set was 454 that include patients of mental health treatment. The article is relevant to the field of psychology because it explains the reasons that account for sex differences in post-traumatic disorders.
Section 2: Testing Assumptions
The study had a different assumption about gender differences and PTEs and PSTD prevalence among men and women. The study conducted 19 different samples that were assumed to be independent of each other in measuring the constructs. The study concluded that men are more likely to report incidences of PTE compared to female. On the other hand, the methodology used was assumed to be weak.
Section 3: Research Question and Hypotheses
The study has four questions that guided data collection. The first question sought to understand the differences between male and female concerning the type of Traumatic Disorder Experienced. The other question explores how gender meets the criteria for PTSD diagnosis. The third question seeks to answer whether the differences between two genders regarding experiencing a Traumatic Event.
Lastly, the journal aims to examine whether sex differences in PTSD are evident during trauma control. The null hypothesis of the study indicated that females are more likely to meet the criteria for PTSD diagnostic. The alternative hypothesis states those males are likely to experience less fear than women are.
Section 4: Interpretation
The data was analyzed about the study questions, null, and alternative hypothesis. Mantel-Haenzel chi-square was used for data analysis, and the outcome was very significant. According to the data analysis, the value of p was < 05. This is a clear indication that there was heterogeneity of variance in the sample collected from males and females. Men were more likely to meet the criteria for PTSD, and it was twice as women and girls in the study. The finding overturned the null results recorded in other studies. In the second question, p<0.01, therefore, indicating females have a higher probability of experiencing PTSD than men. This was also mentioned regarding the potentially traumatic events where women scored high than men.
Section 5: Conclusion
The meta-analysis of the information collected from other articles and study participant obtained results concerning the topic of the research. The question on whether female members have a higher probability of meeting the criteria for diagnosis showed that female gender is more likely to reach it as compared to males. The next question on whether the above finding was the cause of higher risk regarding female experience was not the case. However, there are differences among different studies.
Thus, one cannot argue that prevalence of PTSD was due to a higher risk of experiencing PTE. Besides, it cannot be attributed to others such as sexual assault and violence. Meta-analysis was used in the study, and there are various limitations such as a threat to reliability and validity, and the measurement of the constructs are only precise regarding their definition.
References
Tolin, D. F., & Foa, E. B. (2006). Sex differences in trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder: a quantitative review of 25 years of research. Psychological bulletin, 132(6), 959
