Posttrauma Numbing of Fear, Detachment, and Arousal Predict Delinquent Behaviors in Early Adolescence

Abstract

This study elaborated on associations between youth's trauma-related emotional numbing across multiple affective domains (e.g., fear, sadness, happiness, anger) and delinquent behaviors. The study also examined whether the effects of posttrauma emotional numbing varied by the occurrence of posttrauma arousal symptoms. Participants were 123 middle school boys and girls from working-class, urban communities. Emotional numbing, particularly diminished fear, was related to both home and community violence exposure. Numbing of fearful emotions was associated with all types of delinquent behaviors examined. In addition, numbing of sadness was associated with aggression. Interactions between numbing of fear and hyperarousal suggested a complex pattern of emotional processing following exposure to traumatic events in which numbing related to delinquent behavior only in the context of high posttrauma arousal. These patterns may coalesce to place youth at risk for early involvement in delinquent behaviors.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship awarded to the first author. We thank the children, families, and schools that participated in this study.

Notes

*p < .05. ***p < .001.

Note: For the purposes of constructing an Emotional Numbing Scale, all Emotional Numbing Scale items were reversed scored for the previous analyses. PTSD = posttraumatic stress disorder.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Note: ENS = Emotional Numbing Scale; PTSD = posttraumatic stress disorder.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Note: Fearlessness = numbing of fear.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Note: Arousal = posttrauma arousal; Fearlessness = numbing of fear.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Note: Arousal = posttrauma arousal; Fearlessness = numbing of fear.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.