Direct and Indirect Effects of Cumulative Trauma, PTSD, and Substance Use Disorder on Probability of Arrest Among Lower Income African American and Latina Women

Abstract

We conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data to examine the association of cumulative trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorder (SUD) with the probability of arrest in a sample of socioeconomically disadvantaged African American and Latino mothers (N ¼ 158). Results revealed that 34% of the sample had a history of arrest. Logistic regression revealed that cumulative trauma was significantly and positively associated with the likelihood of arrest. Exposure to increasing numbers of traumas contributed to greater odds of arrest, as much as 62% for each additional trauma exposure. Moreover, binary mediation analyses revealed that PTSD and SUD exerted an intervening influence on the pathway between cumulative trauma and the probability of arrest. Women with a lifetime history of PTSD or SUD were 5-6 times more likely to be arrested than women without either disorder. Lifetime PTSD and lifetime SUD were partial mediators of the association between cumulative trauma exposure and arrest, accounting for 63%

Reentry as Experienced by Women in Jail: Advocating for Change

“…Women with a history of incarceration pose a higher risk for using substances to cope with trauma symptoms (DeHart et al, 2014). Criminal behavior and subsequent arrest and incarceration often result from a woman's addiction to one or more illegal substances (Johnson et al, 2014;Nowotny et al, 2014;Ruglass et al, 2018). Women with a criminal history often report using alcohol and other drugs to relieve emotional and physical pain associated with victimization and childhood adversities (DeHart et al, 2014;Johnson et al, 2014;Ruglass et al, 2018;Thompson, 2008).…”

“…Criminal behavior and subsequent arrest and incarceration often result from a woman's addiction to one or more illegal substances (Johnson et al, 2014;Nowotny et al, 2014;Ruglass et al, 2018). Women with a criminal history often report using alcohol and other drugs to relieve emotional and physical pain associated with victimization and childhood adversities (DeHart et al, 2014;Johnson et al, 2014;Ruglass et al, 2018;Thompson, 2008). Upon reentering the community, these women are at risk of falling back into a lifestyle that involves substance use as a means of coping with mental health, familial, and financial difficulties (Scott et al, 2014).…”

Effects of PTSD Associated Alcohol Abuse on Social Economic Status among Youth in Kenya: A Systematic Review

“…The findings show that PTSD and depression play a major role as links between deployment stressors to work and family outcomes. Ruglass et al (2016) studied "Direct and Indirect Effects of Cumulative Trauma, PTSD, and Substance Use Disorder on Probability of Arrest among Lower-Income African American and Latina Women". This study focused on the association of cumulative trauma, PTSD, and substance use disorder (SUD) and arrest probability among the socioeconomically disadvantaged African-American and Latino mothers.…”

“…Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY-NC) Smith et al (2017) show that PTSD and depression play a major role as links have positive influences on work and family outcomes as well as alcohol abuse. Ruglass et al (2016) show that there is a positive association of cumulative trauma, PTSD, and substance use disorder (SUD) and arrest probability among the socioeconomically disadvantaged African-American and Latino mothers. This went on to affect their social-economic statuses.…”

A Systematic Review on the Effects of PTSD Associated Alcohol Abuse on Social Economic Status among Youth in Kenya

“…Smith et al (2017) show that PTSD and depression play a major role as links have positive influences on work and family outcomes as well as alcohol abuse. Ruglass et al (2016) show that there is a positive association of cumulative trauma, PTSD, and substance use disorder (SUD) and arrest probability among the socioeconomically disadvantaged African-American and Latino mothers. This went on to affect their social-economic statuses.…”