ATTITUDES TO EMOTION, CRISIS SUPPORT AND DISTRESS 30 MONTHS AFTER THECAPSIZE OF A PASSENGER FERRY DISASTER

The hypothesis that negative attitudes to emotional expression would b e associated with higher levels of symptomatology and lower levels of received social support was tested in a group of 73 survivors of a maj or shipping accident. The predictions were largely borne out out altho ugh some symptoms argued to be core features of PTSD were not related, suggesting that the negative attitudes were related to coping with co re symptoms of trauma. The results are discussed in relation to target s for intervention in crisis counselling and therapy.