Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder are associated with various variables such as the exposure to traumatic events, sex and age. Such events could lead to negative cognitions towards self and the world. These cognitions, in turn, may lead to traumatic related disorders.
The present study aims to identify the percentage of traumatised individuals according to sex and age category variables. It also aims to assess the average of spreading symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder of traumatised individuals according to sex and age category variables. Likewise, it aims to test variables significance in cognitions towards the world and the self according to the level of the spread of posttraumatic stress disorder and according to sex and age category variables. The study consisted of 136 male and female students of Baghdad University, 59 males and 77 females. Traumatic event history, posttraumatic stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder cognition questionnaire was applied.
The results have shown that all sample individuals were subjected continuously to various traumatic events. They have also shown that females were subjected to such events more than males. The results have also shown that the females showed posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in a manner that was more consistent with the criteria of identification than males. As regards the negative cognitions towards the world and self, the results have shown high levels of these cognitions especially by the sample individuals who had levels consistent with criteria of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. In light of the findings, a number of recommendations and suggestions have been provided.