Osobni prostor oboljelih od posttraumatskog stresnog poremećaja Personal space of inidividuals with posttraumatic stress disorder

摘要

The aim of this study was to determine the personal space size of individuals with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to determine whether it differs from the personal space of individuals whitout psychiatric disorders, as well as to examine the effect of approaching person's gender and approaching direction. Correlations between intensity of PTSD symptoms and personal space size were also examined. udStudy participants were 168 male individuals, 83 of whom were war veterans with chronic PTSD and 85 were individuals without psychiatric disorders (control group). udPersonal space was assessed by using a stop-distance technique, where male and female research assistants approached the participants from four directions (front, behind, right, left). Approaching persons were unknown to the participants. Results revealed significantly larger personal space size of individuals with chronic PTSD than of individuals without psychiatric disorders. udParticipants in both groups maintained smaller interpersonal distances when approached by a woman than by a man. The war veterans with PTSD preferred the greatest interpersonal distance when approached from behind, whereas the control group preferred the greatest distance when approached frontally. The correlations between intensity of PTSD symptoms and personal space size were not significant.