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Pamela A. Cogdal, Ph.D., Ayse Ciftci Uruk, MS, Dave Strauser, Ph.D.
The University of Memphis
Patterson 119
Memphis, TN38152
Exposure to traumatic events and the knowledge of how trauma relates to social and psychological well- being has
become a central focus for today's helping professions. An individual's ability to cope with exposure to a traumatic
event is moderated by individual and contextual factors such as social support, personality, cognitive functioning
and the duration or intensity of the trauma (Keane,1989; Thomas, 1995).
In this study differences in trauma scales (LA Symptom Checklist) were examined between individuals with
disabilities and college students who did not report having a disability.One hundred twenty students and 61 clients
from the Center for Rehabilitation and Employment Research were included in the study.
The results indicated significant differences between women with disabilities and without disabilities on GAD
(global assessment of distress) with medium to large effects size.The women with disabilities reported high scores
on the GAD subscale.
There were no significant differences found between the general sample (males and females) or between the student
and client and groupings. The authors hypothesize that the significant difference on GAD for the female groups (
disabilities and no disabilities) may be due to the vulnerability of women to abuse rather than the disability itself.
Given the fact that 50% of women with disabilities report being sexually abused as children as compared to 34% of
women who do not have a disability (Nosek, 1996) and that the incidence rate for violence and sexual assault among
women with disabilities ranges from 40% to 70% (Daucette, 1986; Sobsey,Gray, Wells, Pyper,& Reimerheck,
1991), one may speculate that vulnerability and gender issues are two areas to further explore when it comes to
trauma impact.
Implications for future research as well as clinical practice will be shared.
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