Events That Have Become Central to Identity: Gender Differences in the Centrality of Events Scale for Positive and Negative Events

Past research has demonstrated that the extent to which a negative event has become central to one's identity using the centrality of events scale (CES) is associated with depression, dissociation and PTSD symptoms. The combined results from two studies that collectively examined nominated negative and positive personal events and the 2004 Presidential election found that females are more likely than males to construct a negative even( as central to their identity. In addition, higher CES scores for a negative event were associated with higher ratings of vividness, emotional intensity, visceral emotional reactions, depression, dissociation, PTSD symptoms and worse physical health Outcomes. In contrast, CES scores for positive events were not related to the Measure,,; of mental or physical health, although this finding was ambiguous in Stud), 2. The tendency for females to construct a negative event as central to their identity may help explain gender differences in mental health outcomes. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.