DOES AGE AND GENDER MATTER? EXAMINING THEIR MODERATING ROLE IN THE LINK BETWEEN PERITRAUMATIC DISSOCIATION AND PTSD SYMPTOMS

Abstract

The present study examined age and gender differences in peritraumatic dissociation and posttraumatic stress
symptoms (PTSS) and investigated the moderating roles of age and gender in the relationship between peritraumatic
dissociation and PTSS among patients diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A cross-sectional
correlational research design was employed, and data were collected at a single point in time. The sample
comprised 303 PTSD-diagnosed patients aged 20–40 years, recruited from psychiatric hospitals and clinics using a
purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using a demographic information sheet, the Peritraumatic
Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire (PDEQ), and the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Statistical analyses
were conducted using SPSS to examine age and gender differences, while SmartPLS was utilized to test moderation
effects. Results indicated that participants aged 20–30 years reported significantly higher levels of peritraumatic
dissociation and posttraumatic stress symptoms compared to those aged 31–40 years. Female participants also
demonstrated significantly higher dissociation and PTSS than males. Peritraumatic dissociation emerged as a
significant predictor of posttraumatic stress symptoms. Moderation analysis revealed that gender significantly
moderated the relationship between peritraumatic dissociation and PTSS, with a stronger association observed
among females, whereas age did not demonstrate a significant moderating effect. These findings highlight the
importance of considering gender differences in trauma-related psychopathology and underscore the role of
peritraumatic dissociation as a key risk factor for PTSD symptom severity. Implications for gender-sensitive
assessment and intervention strategies are discussed.