Section 1: The Impact of Disoriented emotions on Sexual Performance amongst War Veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq by Nunninck et al. (2010)
In this non experimental study, four post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) cluster conceptualizations were utilized to enhance evaluation of the role that each of the clusters played in enhancing sexual functioning. The study prediction was based on the assumption that given the intimacy that is enhanced through emotional detachment and sexual encounter (reported by the individuals that had PTSD), the sexual numbness symptoms were hardly likely capture many variance that accounted for the sexual functioning and PTSD. All these clusters were closely connected to the sexual complications in a group of 196 veterans that had participated in Pakistan and Afghanistan wars.
A pack of questionnaires was completed by the newly listed troupes. These questionnaires included the standardized PTSD measures together with questions connected to the sexual functioning. This was followed by performance of a strategic regression to enhance examination of the inherent relationship between sexual functioning and cluster. The study portrayed an intimate relationship of the numbness and the sexual functioning. This study concluded that the individuals exhibiting symptoms of sexual numbness require thorough assessment of the problems connected with sexual functioning coupled with being referred for the necessary treatment.
In this study, two brief screening items were used. Therefore, the author emphasizes on the need for the future studies benefiting from inclusion of exhaustive standardized sexual functioning measures coupled with further exploring on the direct link of the PTSD measures to a particular sexual disorder. From the findings of this study, it is apparent that more serious PTSD symptomatology was experienced by the veterans with problems related to sexual health. In addition, the study recommended for advanced understanding of the insidious effects of military-linked distress which are inclusive of emotional numbing.
Section 2: Post Traumatic Stress as a War from within by Elias (2008)
Talking about the post-traumatic stress, this magazine highlights sexual functioning as a major concern. In this magazine’s introduction, the author explains complexity of post-traumatic stress. As a result of this complexity, the author warns that this problem has a possibility of being a major concern as more war veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq explores various ways of treating the illnesses. This brief introduction enables the reader to gain a broader understanding the information contained in the article. Without citing the source of the information provided in this article, it is apparent that the author argues from a personal perspective. Therefore the information provided in the magazine can be perceived to be targeting the general public.
In the USA Today article, the author hardly cites the source from which the arguments generated are referenced. It is hence apparent that the author provides arguments from a personal perspective. In contrast, the journal cautiously ensures that the facts are well cited and referenced. In addition, the author targets a specific category of readers and does not necessarily have to justify the relevance of the highlighted information. This is based on the fact that although the reader is seemingly providing new information, this information is part of what is widely known and understood by people in relation to the particular topic. The writer then embarks on providing general information about what is well known in that particular topic. Therefore it is common to encounter an article with old and well know information.
Section 3: Comparing the two articles
When we look at the type of information contained in these articles, some differences can also be cited. For instance, the complexity of language use in the journal clearly portrays an article that is targeted at the scholarly people. Consider for instance the special jargons and terminologies that begin at the introduction and continues all through to the conclusion. Therefore without prior knowledge regarding the topic provided, it would be hard have a clear understanding of the language that has been incorporated in this journal. On the other side while reading the USA Today magazine, I can conclude that the language that has been used has mainly targeted any readers, as long as they can read the specific language. Therefore, very simple language has been used, with diverse kind of leaders being considered.
Another major difference has been displayed in the layout of the two articles. In the journal, a brief and clear summary of the article is developed in the abstract. There is also a clearly isolated conclusion that revisits the main study topic and provides the reader with the final perspective of the author after conducting a thorough research. Meanwhile, the USA Times has provided the reader with eye catching article. Included in this article are the photographs and illustrations that have hardly been provided in the journal.
As I have explained above, both studies describe the study topic in the introductory part and the research topic’s key words. According to the description provided in the journal, emotional numbing is explained to be a PTSD accepted feature. On the other side, USA Today describes PTSD as a mental health condition that has hardly well-known and understood. As further elaborated, the article explains that this disorder is increasingly gaining popularity among the post war veteran solders seeking treatment for their illnesses. It is therefore the statistical and theoretical findings of the journal study that highlights the need for reformation in the PTSD clusters to enhance replication of the independence in the numbness factor.
The article by Nunnink et al. (2010) is a comprehensive research which contains a brief introduction, research methodology, research findings and discussion together with conclusion which summarizes the study findings. In the abstract, the study details the methodology that was used in experiment and a brief summary of the results, conclusion and recommendation. In addition, four PTSD clusters are summarized as hyper-arousal, intrusiveness, avoidance, and numbing. These PTSD clusters are closely connected to sexual complications in a sample selected from the veteran solders that had participated in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. On the other side, the USA Today briefly summarizes the topic in the introduction part. The article is not a research and therefore, it refrains from providing the reader with an abstract. The author goes straight to describing the topic after which various perspectives are provided to substantiate the argument developed in the introduction. Despite the differences, I have understood that both articles set the pace with an introduction.
For the consumers encountering the research journal, comprehensive enlightening is enhanced through substantiation of the thesis statement with a comprehensive research. After the discussion has been properly detailed, the conclusion summarizes the findings that really convince the reader that the hypothesis is justified. This is as opposed to the USA Today article that hardly substantiates the topic information with a comprehensive research study. Therefore as opposed to this brief article that can be regarded as a mere argument; the research journal is generated on a comprehensive and strategic flow from introduction to the conclusion that enlightens reader based on facts. Therefore for a consumer searching for newsfeed on the healthy matters, the USA Today will be appropriate but for comprehensiveness, the research journal is more communicative and convincing. However, the length of the journal can be one of the demerits especially to a reader seeking firsthand facts without the need for comprehensive reading. Being too detailed would therefore from another perspective be perceived as a weakness when briefly highlighted information is required.
Summary
In this essay, I have provided a review of two articles written in different formats but addressing the same sexual functioning issue in men. In the research article by Nonnink et al. (2010), emotional numbing is highlighted to negatively impact the sexual functioning. The article therefore recommends for thorough assessment of the symptoms of emotional numbness to ensure that sexual functioning problems are treated. In the USA Today, PTSD is highlighted as a mental problem that has hardly been understood and well known. It is also highlighted to be evoked by sexual functioning issue that surrounds these individuals. Although I have highlighted various formats that are used in the two articles, a few similarities are apparent. For instance both articles contain an introductory paragraph that provides a brief background to the problem. However in contrast, the research article starts with a summary of the whole article which is presented in form of an abstract. This is one of the differences from the USA Today article which contains no abstract. However, the two articles have specifically been written to address the interests of various readers. Therefore the comprehensives provided in the research journal may not be desired by a reader that may specifically be seeking for a brief explanation in a simply written article such as a USA Today.
References
Elias, M. (November 20, 2008). Post-traumatic stress is a war within for military and civilians. In USA Today. Retrieved on August 19, 2011 from;
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-26-PTSD-main_N.htm
Nunnink, S. et al. (2010). The Role of Emotional Numbing in Sexual Functioning Among Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Journal of Military Medicine, 175, 6: 424. Retrieved from:
http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy1.apus.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=abaf8841-ffbc-40dd-911b-b30eda4c07ae%40sessionmgr111&vid=5&hid=106
