The Comparison of Experimental Avoidance, Mindfulness and Rumination in Trauma-Exposed Individuals With and Without Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in an Iranian Sample

The aim of this study was to compare experimental avoidance, mindfulness and rumination in trauma-exposed individuals with and without PTSD in an Iranian sample. The method of the study was retrospective. The statistical population of the study composed of all people under the auspices of Committee on Relief or Martyr Foundation because of exposure to at least one traumatic event in Gilan-Gharb city (Iran) (N = 1708). One hundred people, selected randomly by stratified sampling method, responded to Mississippi PTSD scale and the questionnaires of experimental avoidance, mindfulness and rumination individually. Subjects were divided into two groups of with and without PTSD based on Mississippi PTSD scale and structured clinical interview. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) test was used for analyzing data. Results showed that although the mean scores of the group with PTSD were significantly higher than the group without PTSD in variables of experimental avoidance (P < 0/001, F = 63/8) and rumination (P < 0/001, F = 21/34), the mean scores of the group with PTSD were significantly lower than the group without PTSD in the overall score of mindfulness (P < 0/05, F = 6/64) and variables of observing (P < 0/05, F = 8/27) and action description (P < 0/05, F = 9/19). These results show that the experimental avoidance and rumination are as the risk factors and mindfulness as the protective factor PTSD in people faced with trauma.