Thinking About Trauma: The Unique Contributions of Event Centrality and Posttraumatic Cognitions in Predicting PTSD and Posttraumatic Growth

Researchers have been investigating possible pathways to negative (posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) and positive (posttraumatic growth [PTG]) reactions to trauma in recent decades. Two cognitive constructs, event centrality and posttraumatic cognitions, have been implicated to uniquely predict PTSD symptoms in an undergraduate sample. The current pair of studies attempted to (a) replicate this finding in an undergraduate sample, (b) replicate this finding in a treatment‐seeking sample, and (c) explore whether these 2 cognitive constructs uniquely predict PTG. The first study consisted of 500 undergraduate students, whereas the second study consisted of 53 treatment‐seeking clients. Results indicated both posttraumatic cognitions and event centrality uniquely predicted PTSD in the undergraduate (R2 = .46) and treatment‐seeking samples (R2 = .46). These 2 cognitive constructs also predicted PTG in the undergraduate sample (R2 = .37), but only posttraumatic cognitions predicted PTG in the treatment‐seeking sample (R2 = .17). The relationships between PTG varied, depending on whether PTG for high or low event‐centrality events were assessed. The original model was supported within both populations for PTSD symptoms, and its extension to PTG was supported within the treatment‐seeking sample. These results underscore cognitive and narrative factors in the progression of trauma. Traditional and Simplified Chinese s by AsianSTSS 標題：預測PTSD和創傷後成長：事件集中性和創傷後認知的獨特影響。 撮要：近數十載研究主要探討創傷的正面(創傷後成長[PTG])和負面(創傷後壓力症[PTSD])反應的可能路徑。兩個認知建構，即事件集中性(EC)和創傷後認知在一個大學生樣本中可預測PTSD症狀。本文為兩個研究，旨在：a) 在大學生樣本複製上述結論，b) 在求診樣本複製上述結論，和c)探索前述兩個認知建構是否能夠預知PTG。首研究樣本為500名大學生而次研究樣本為53名求診患者。結果顯示創傷後認知及EC都能預測大學生(R2 = .46)和求診(R2 = .46)樣本的PTSD。此兩種認知建構在大學生樣本中預測PTG(R2 = .37)，但只有創傷後認知能在求診樣本中預測PTG(R2 = .17)。視乎PTG是否在高或低事件集中性的事件下評核，PTG之間的關係因而變化。原模型在兩個樣本羣組中能預測PTSD症狀，亦在求診樣本中能擴展至PTG。結果突顯創傷演進中認知和描述因素的重要性。 标题：预测PTSD和创伤后成长：事件集中性和创伤后认知的独特影响。 撮要：近数十年研究主要探讨创伤的正面(创伤后成长[PTG])和负面(创伤后压力症[PTSD])反应的可能路径。两个认知建构，即事件集中性(EC)和创伤后认知在一个大学生样本中可预测PTSD症状。本文为两个研究，旨在：a) 在大学生样本复制上述结论，b) 在求诊样本复制上述结论，和c)探索前述两个认知建构是否能够预知PTG。首研究样本为500名大学生而次研究样本为53名求诊患者。结果显示创伤后认知及EC都能预测大学生(R2 = .46)和求诊(R2 = .46)样本的PTSD。此两种认知建构在大学生样本中预测PTG(R2 = .37)，但只有创伤后认知能在求诊样本中预测PTG(R2 = .17)。视乎PTG是否在高或低事件集中性的事件下评核，PTG之间的关系因而变化。原模型在两个样本羣组中能预测PTSD症状，亦在求诊样本中能扩展至PTG。结果突显创伤演进中认知和描述因素的重要性。