THE EFFECTS OF VICTIMIZATION, POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, AND HEART RATE REACTIVITY ON ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR

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2019-04-17

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Abstract

Understanding factors associated with antisocial behavior and substance use is paramount within the field of criminology to better understand correlates of crime and criminal behavior. A growing literature concerning risk factors that increase the propensity for antisocial behavior and substance use has explained the relationship between many traits and these outcomes. However, many risk factors are correlated not only to antisocial behavior and substance use, but also to one another. The risk factors of victimization, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and increased heart rate reactivity (HRR) have all been shown to be related to one another as well as to antisocial behavior and substance use. The current dissertation seeks to examine if the three risk factors of victimization, increased PTSD, and increased HRR increase the propensity of antisocial behavior and substance use when all three risk factors are present. In addition, the current dissertation also seeks to better understand if the interaction between these three risk factors on antisocial behavior and substance use vary based on gender. The sample for the current dissertation is 486 college students from a southwestern state university. To test the effects of victimization (property and personal), increased PTSD, and increased HRR on antisocial behavior and substance use (both for the full and gender split sample) Tobit regression models were estimated. The findings in part, support that the interaction of victimization, increased PTSD, and increased HRR increase the propensity for antisocial behavior for males only. Herein, the specific findings and future directions suggested by the current dissertation are further discussed.

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Keywords

Victimization, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Heart rate reactivity, Antisocial behavior, Substance use

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