Psychological trauma : theory, research, practice and policy最新文献

Objective: This research identifies the promotive and protective factors at different systemic levels that facilitate psychological and social well-being when young people are living as migrants with an indeterminant status.

Method: Informed by a social-ecological understanding of multisystemic resilience, 50 Ukrainian migrants to Canada aged 12-19 were interviewed twice over a 12-month period to investigate their experience of resettlement under a temporary visa program. All participants were forced migrants, residing in Canada for up to 3 years in two regions of the country (Nova Scotia and Alberta) with different size diaspora. Interview questions focused on a range of psychological, social, institutional, and environmental contextual factors associated with well-being. For the analysis, constructivist grounded theory was used to identify factors that could explain young people's developmental outcomes in a specific context of temporariness.

Results: Results show that forcibly displaced immigrant youth navigate the spaces, places, and their relationships with people to support positive developmental trajectories after exposure to potentially traumatizing events. Young people discussed multiple systems that became crucial during their transition to life in Canada, among them communication with peers, family, dependency on the diaspora, mentorship, and the quality of housing.

Conclusions: Findings help to broaden theories related to forced migration, specifically theories that emphasize the cocreation of meaning attached to person-in-environment interactions and the resulting potential for positive development even under conditions of temporariness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: The Child and Adolescent Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist (CAPC) for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-fourth edition-Text Revision (Amaya-Jackson et al., 1995) has been validated and internationally used for assessing symptoms of PTSD. In response to community clinicians' requests for an equitably accessible measure, collaborative research methods were used to develop the Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences Survey. The CAPC was also revised to reflect changes in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, add a caregiver-report version, and incorporate items to assess International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 11th revision (ICD-11) PTSD, ICD-11 complex PTSD, and functional impairment (CAPC-5; Pane Seifert et al., 2022). The present study examined psychometric properties of the Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences Survey and CAPC-5 to validate their assessment of PTSD symptoms among youth.

Method: Analyses were conducted using data from a sample of 374 racially and economically diverse, trauma-exposed, treatment-seeking youth (7-19 years) and their caregivers.

Results: On average, youth endorsed 8.58 (3.35) traumatic experiences and 75% met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, PTSD criteria, 82% met ICD-11 PTSD criteria, and 69% met ICD-11 complex PTSD criteria. Providing evidence for convergent validity, meeting criteria for any of the three self-reported PTSD conceptualizations was positively correlated with number of traumatic experiences (all ps < .05) and depressive symptoms (all ps < .05). Measure psychometrics were further supported by caregiver-reported assessments and internal reliabilities.

Conclusions: The Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences Survey more thoroughly assesses traumatic experiences endorsed by today's youth, including potentially traumatic experiences related to identity-based discrimination, while the CAPC-5 goes beyond extant measures to assess for complex PTSD. The strong psychometric properties of both measures support their utility in assessing PTSD symptoms among children and adolescents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: The processing of positive memories technique (PPMT) capitalizes on the content of positive autobiographical memories (AMs) to reduce posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. To advance research on how and why PPMT is effective, this study examined whether and how changes in self-reported positive AM characteristics (vividness, coherence, accessibility, sensory details, visual perspective, emotional intensity, sharing, valence, psychological distance) associated with changes in PTSD symptom severity across PPMT sessions.

Method: Seventy individuals were recruited from the community (M_age = 30.44 ± 12.78; 71.4% of participants identified as White, 72.9% identified as female) and received four sessions of PPMT. They completed surveys at baseline (pre-PPMT), at each PPMT session (Sessions 1-4), and 1 week after attending all PPMT sessions (post-PPMT).

Results: Paired samples t tests indicated a decrease in PTSD symptom severity pre- to post-PPMT (p < .001, g = -0.91). Linear regression models indicated that improvements in participants' ease of accessing positive AMs (β = -0.29, p = .015) and in the coherence of the positive AM narratives (β = -0.29, p = .013) from PPMT Sessions 1 to 4 were associated with decreases in PTSD severity pre- to post-PPMT.

Conclusions: Further studies should investigate whether targeting improved access to positive AMs and improved abilities to construct coherent narratives of those events could mechanistically reduce PTSD symptoms among participants receiving PPMT. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: Sexual violence is associated with a greater risk of several mental health disorders and an increased risk of revictimization. Poly-victimization heightens the risk of adverse mental health outcomes. Nevertheless, some individuals demonstrate resilience following such experiences. Research on malleable psychological strengths is needed to inform interventions, particularly in the Nordic context. Accordingly, we conducted the first study in Iceland to examine factors associated with positive adaptation through the lens of the resilience portfolio model and the cumulative effects of psychological strengths (poly-strengths). Additionally, we explored the moderating effect of poly-strengths on the relationship between poly-victimization and mental health.

Method: Participants included 563 Icelandic adults (76% women) who had experienced sexual violence, drawn from a nationally representative sample; data were collected through a phone survey assessing psychological strengths and positive (well-being and happiness) and adverse mental health outcomes (distress and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms).

Results: Substance use and negative social reactions undermined resilience after sexual violence, while older age, financial security, physical exercise, better anger management, social support, and posttraumatic growth facilitated resilient outcomes. Poly-strengths were more strongly associated with positive aspects of mental health, while poly-victimization related more strongly to adverse mental health outcomes. Both poly-victimization and poly-strengths had unique relationships with all mental health outcomes. Furthermore, poly-strengths moderated the relationship between poly-victimization and all mental health outcomes, showing that higher levels of poly-strengths reduced the adverse effects of poly-victimization.

Conclusions: Poly-strengths appear to significantly shape mental health outcomes following sexual violence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: First responders are at greater risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to constant exposure to potentially traumatic events. Studies have shown that both insecure attachment and emotion dysregulation contribute to more PTSD symptom severity. However, it is unclear whether emotion dysregulation explains relationships between insecure attachment and PTSD symptoms, especially among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) first responders.

Method: A total of 188 trauma-exposed BIPOC first responders (M_age = 35.40; 71.80% men) residing in Canada completed research questionnaires. The direct and indirect effects of attachment insecurity (i.e., attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance) on PTSD symptom clusters (intrusions, avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions and mood, alterations in arousal and reactivity) via emotion dysregulation were examined via PROCESS macro Model 4.

Results: Results showed that emotion dysregulation mediated the relations between attachment anxiety/avoidance and all four PTSD symptom clusters (B_s = .02 to .16; R² = 19.79% to 38.15%).

Conclusions: Trauma-exposed BIPOC first responders with insecure attachment styles are more likely to experience difficulties regulating emotions, which increases the severity of all four PTSD symptom clusters. Culturally congruent, trauma-informed treatments may benefit from targeting emotion regulation among BIPOC first responders to improve posttrauma well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: Racial trauma is, understandably, associated with negative emotionality and particularly depression and anxiety for Black Americans. To inform trauma-related intervention, insights into mechanisms associated with racial trauma, depression, and anxiety are paramount. One potential mechanism is alexithymia, or one's capacity to identify and describe emotions. The purpose of this study was to examine alexithymia as a possible influence in the association of racial trauma and negative emotionality among Black adults.

Method: Study participants were 133 Black American adults (M = 35.02 years; SD = 14.43 years) who reported at least one racially traumatic event. Participants completed a self-report questionnaire battery.

Results: As predicted, the association of racial trauma and negative emotionality was statistically significant though only for respondents who reported heightened levels of alexithymia.

Conclusion: These findings provide insights into the importance of emotional expression for influencing responses to race-based traumatic events. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: Childhood trauma has been demonstrated to have severe adverse effects on lifespan. Although research has explored the link between childhood trauma and depression, fewer studies have examined this relationship specifically in the context of emerging adulthood. To address this gap, the present study aimed to further investigate the relationship between childhood trauma and depression in emerging adults and explore the roles of derailment and future time perspective.

Method: A total of 3,553 college students were recruited from Beijing, China. Participants completed a series of self-report questionnaires measuring childhood trauma, derailment, future time perspective, and depression. A moderated mediation model with latent variables was conducted to analyze the relationships between the main variables using Mplus8.3.

Results: The findings demonstrated that childhood trauma was positively associated with depression. Derailment was identified as a mediator in the relationship between childhood trauma and depression. Additionally, future time perspective was found to moderate both the direct path from childhood trauma to depression and the mediating effects of derailment, indicating that individuals with a more positive future time perspective experienced weaker effects of childhood trauma on depression through derailment.

Conclusions: Derailment partially mediated the association between childhood trauma and depression in emerging adults. Furthermore, future time perspective buffered the negative effects of childhood trauma and derailment on depression. In the future, the potential for targeted interventions focusing on enhancing future time perspective may help reduce the detrimental effects of childhood trauma on mental health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with health-risk behaviors and chronic disease development. Although valuable, conventional ACE surveys may fail to adequately capture the range of adversities that some communities experience. The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether First Nations and Metis postsecondary students and staff in Ontario identified domains of ACE not captured by conventional ACE surveys. In addition, this study aimed to identify potential coping strategies or factors.

Method: Qualitative interview and focus group methodologies were used; notably, we integrated aspects of the nominal group technique with elements of First Nations Sharing Circles. The data were thematically analyzed and organized by their impact as perceived by participants.

Results: Sixteen First Nations and Metis participants (ages 21-38) shared five additional domains of ACE: historical trauma, lack of infrastructure and public services, household and community dysfunction, gender-based adversities, and racial discrimination. Four domains of coping strategies and factors were identified: healing from trauma, improving cultural connections, strengthening social networks, and developing skills and knowledge.

Conclusions: Findings highlight the need to appreciate the sociological and historical experiences of communities, not just individuals, when surveying ACE among Indigenous youth. Specifically, when surveying ACE in Indigenous populations, measures should be expanded to include historical trauma, lack of infrastructure and public services, gender-based adversities, and racial discrimination. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are widely recognized for their impact on an individual's prosocial behaviors. However, the specific relationship between ACEs and public service motivation (PSM)-a form of prosocial behavior within the public domain-remains insufficiently understood. Considering the crucial role PSM plays in psychological and social development, this study aimed to investigate the association between ACEs and PSM, with a particular focus on the mediating effect of sleep duration. Furthermore, in the context of urban-rural disparities in China, the present study will explore the moderating influence of urban-rural status on this relationship.

Method: This study used cross-sectional data from a 2023 nationwide survey conducted in China, involving 30,054 participants (female 50.1%). This study used modified Poisson regression with robust variance to examine the association between exposure to seven types of ACEs and the risk of low PSM. The study also explored the mediating role of sleep duration and the moderating role of urban-rural status in the relationship between ACEs and PSM.

Results: Exposure to all seven different types of ACE was significantly associated with an increased risk of low PSM. In addition, ACE scores negatively predicted PSM outcomes (B = -0.41, p ≤ 0.001), and the effect of ACEs on PSM scores was mediated by sleep duration.

Conclusions: All seven types of ACEs increased the risk of low PSM to some extent. ACEs negatively predicted PSM indirectly through sleep duration, while urban-rural status moderated the relationships among ACEs, sleep duration, and PSM. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: Limited research has documented the continuity of trauma exposure between parents and young children and the relation between intergenerational trauma and maternal parenting and child outcomes. This study examined intergenerational trauma among African American families from low-income backgrounds and its relation to parenting processes and children's behavior.

Method: Participants represent a subsample of 157 African American mothers and their 4- to 7-year-old children in an urban prekindergarten program. Researchers collected data on maternal and child exposure to trauma, demographics, parenting stress, and child behavior in families' homes. Parent-child interaction was videorecorded and coded.

Results: Parent and child trauma exposures were strongly related. Elevated parent and child trauma was related to higher sensitive-engaged parenting. Parenting stress moderated maternal and child trauma's association with sensitive-engaged parenting, as well as the association between child trauma and harsh parenting. Higher parent trauma, child trauma, and parenting stress scores were associated with increased child externalizing behavior.

Conclusions: This study documented intergenerational continuity of trauma and trauma's impact on child behavior. Findings revealed complex relations between trauma and parenting that were moderated by parenting stress. Implications of these findings underscore the importance of interventions that promote positive parental mental health and parenting in the context of addressing the intergenerational risk for children's trauma exposure and sequelae. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).