(PS10-37) Sleep Disturbances and Facets of Emotion Regulation Difficulties as Predictors of PTSD Symptom Severity among Trauma-Exposed College Women

Abstract Text: Sleep is frequently disrupted among college women and may be a potential factor associated with the development and maintenance of PTSD symptoms. Those with emotion regulation (ER) difficulties may be less equipped to handle distressing symptoms of PTSD and other ongoing stressors influenced by sleep disturbance, though it is unclear which of the six facets of ER contribute to this potential relation. The present study evaluated whether the association between sleep disturbance and PTSD symptoms was stronger among those higher in total or individual facets of emotion regulation, including: nonacceptance of emotional responses (NONACCEPTANCE), difficulties in engaging in goal-directed behaviors (GOALS), impulse control difficulties (IMPULSE), lack of emotional awareness (AWARENESS), limited access to ER strategies (STRATEGIES), and lack of emotional clarity (CLARITY). 1,037 college women aged 18 to 25 18 to 25 (Mage = 18.89, SD = 1.08) completed self-report measures, including lifetime history of potentially traumatic events (Trauma History Questionnaire; THQ), PTSD symptoms (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5; PCL-5), emotion regulation difficulties (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale; DERS-18), and sleep disturbance (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; PSQI). After controlling for years elapsed since the traumatic event occurred, and the number of different trauma types endorsed, sleep disturbance was associated with more severe PTSD symptoms (B=5.93, SE=.75, p < .001). Out of the seven total moderation models (total ER difficulties and six facets of ER difficulties), there was only an interaction between sleep disturbance and GOALS (B=.52, SE=.19, p = .007), such that sleep disturbance was associated with more severe PTSD symptoms at low (16th percentile; B=3.89, SE=1.08, p < .001), moderate (50th percentile; B=5.46, SE=.77, p < .001) and high (84th percentile; B=8.06, SE=1.07, p < .001) levels of difficulties in engaging in goal-directed behaviors. In sum, the relation between sleep disturbance and PTSD symptoms was stronger among those higher in difficulties in engaging in goal-directed behaviors. These results suggest that those with difficulties completing goal-related tasks while experiencing negative emotions may be more likely to have PTSD symptoms such as increased difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or enjoying activities when faced with greater daytime negative affect resulting from disturbed sleep. Future research should explore whether this relation remains significant when evaluated prospectively. Additionally, future research might test whether interventions designed to reduce difficulties in completing tasks while experiencing negative emotions may help reduce PTSD symptom severity in college women.