The Relationship among Anxiety, Worry, Perceived Stress, Defense Mechanisms, and High Levels of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms: A Discriminant Analytic Approach
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a pathological condition that may lead to a significant deterioration in the quality of life over time. Therefore, the study of the elements that can characterize the disorder could be considered of great clinical interest and relevance. The aim of the presen...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Personalized Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/13/2/237 |
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| author | Alessio Gori Eleonora Topino Alessandro Musetti |
| author_facet | Alessio Gori Eleonora Topino Alessandro Musetti |
| author_sort | Alessio Gori |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a pathological condition that may lead to a significant deterioration in the quality of life over time. Therefore, the study of the elements that can characterize the disorder could be considered of great clinical interest and relevance. The aim of the present research was to empirically discriminate the influence of perceived stress, state anxiety, worry, and defense mechanisms (mature, neurotic, and immature) at different levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms. A sample of 1250 participants (69.5% women, 30.5% men; <i>M<sub>age</sub></i> = 34.52, <i>SD</i> = 11.857) completed an online survey including the Impact of Event Scale—Revised, Ten-Item Perceived Stress Scale, Penn State Worry Questionnaire, Forty Item Defense Style Questionnaire, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory—Form X3. Data were analysed by implementing MANOVA and discriminant analysis. Results showed significant differences in the levels of perceived stress, state anxiety, and worry, as well as neurotic and immature defenses based on the levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms: <i>F</i>(12,2484) = 85.682, <i>p</i> < 0.001; Wilk’s Λ = 0.430. Furthermore, these variables discriminate significant accuracy between participants who reported a mild psychological impact and those with a probable presence of PTSD, with perceived stress, which was found to be the best predictor. Classification results indicated that the original grouped cases were classified with 86.3% overall accuracy. Such findings may provide useful insight for clinical practice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:34:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-69619214914a45459e5eea44c3189143 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4426 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:34:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
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| series | Journal of Personalized Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-69619214914a45459e5eea44c31891432023-11-16T21:32:38ZengMDPI AGJournal of Personalized Medicine2075-44262023-01-0113223710.3390/jpm13020237The Relationship among Anxiety, Worry, Perceived Stress, Defense Mechanisms, and High Levels of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms: A Discriminant Analytic ApproachAlessio Gori0Eleonora Topino1Alessandro Musetti2Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Via di San Salvi 12, Pad. 26, 50135 Firenze, ItalyDepartment of Human Sciences, LUMSA University of Rome, Via della Traspontina 21, 00193 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, Borgo Carissimi 10, 43121 Parma, ItalyPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a pathological condition that may lead to a significant deterioration in the quality of life over time. Therefore, the study of the elements that can characterize the disorder could be considered of great clinical interest and relevance. The aim of the present research was to empirically discriminate the influence of perceived stress, state anxiety, worry, and defense mechanisms (mature, neurotic, and immature) at different levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms. A sample of 1250 participants (69.5% women, 30.5% men; <i>M<sub>age</sub></i> = 34.52, <i>SD</i> = 11.857) completed an online survey including the Impact of Event Scale—Revised, Ten-Item Perceived Stress Scale, Penn State Worry Questionnaire, Forty Item Defense Style Questionnaire, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory—Form X3. Data were analysed by implementing MANOVA and discriminant analysis. Results showed significant differences in the levels of perceived stress, state anxiety, and worry, as well as neurotic and immature defenses based on the levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms: <i>F</i>(12,2484) = 85.682, <i>p</i> < 0.001; Wilk’s Λ = 0.430. Furthermore, these variables discriminate significant accuracy between participants who reported a mild psychological impact and those with a probable presence of PTSD, with perceived stress, which was found to be the best predictor. Classification results indicated that the original grouped cases were classified with 86.3% overall accuracy. Such findings may provide useful insight for clinical practice.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/13/2/237PTSDpost-traumatic stress symptomsimpact of eventdiscriminant analysisMANOVAanxiety |
| spellingShingle | Alessio Gori Eleonora Topino Alessandro Musetti The Relationship among Anxiety, Worry, Perceived Stress, Defense Mechanisms, and High Levels of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms: A Discriminant Analytic Approach Journal of Personalized Medicine PTSD post-traumatic stress symptoms impact of event discriminant analysis MANOVA anxiety |
| title | The Relationship among Anxiety, Worry, Perceived Stress, Defense Mechanisms, and High Levels of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms: A Discriminant Analytic Approach |
| title_full | The Relationship among Anxiety, Worry, Perceived Stress, Defense Mechanisms, and High Levels of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms: A Discriminant Analytic Approach |
| title_fullStr | The Relationship among Anxiety, Worry, Perceived Stress, Defense Mechanisms, and High Levels of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms: A Discriminant Analytic Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Relationship among Anxiety, Worry, Perceived Stress, Defense Mechanisms, and High Levels of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms: A Discriminant Analytic Approach |
| title_short | The Relationship among Anxiety, Worry, Perceived Stress, Defense Mechanisms, and High Levels of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms: A Discriminant Analytic Approach |
| title_sort | relationship among anxiety worry perceived stress defense mechanisms and high levels of post traumatic stress symptoms a discriminant analytic approach |
| topic | PTSD post-traumatic stress symptoms impact of event discriminant analysis MANOVA anxiety |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/13/2/237 |
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