Teesha Passmore
Doctor of Philosophy, (Psychology)
Study Completed: 2010
College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Citation
Thesis Title
Posttraumatic-stress during later life: A cross-sectional and longitudinal investigation
Read article at Massey Research Online: 
Dr Passmore''scross-sectional and longitudinal research investigated trauma-related psychopathology in a sample of New Zealand''solder citizens. Her research highlighted the significance of lifetime trauma exposure and the cumulative effects of late-life stressors as impacting on posttraumatic stress symptoms during later life. Physical health declined as a consequence of trauma-related psychopathology. A new theoretical framework of traumatisation, Trauma-Schema Theory, was supported by the data. The theory provides viable explanations for occurrences specific to later life, including delayed PTSD reactions in older people, and the triggering of PTSD symptoms in response to late-life stressors. Her results allow for a greater understanding of how and why posttraumatic-stress manifests during later life.
Supervisors
Associate Professor John Podd
Professor Kevin Ronan
Dr Patrick Dulin
Associate Professor Stephen Hill