Contemporaneous and temporal network analysis of complex Posttraumatic stress disorder among Chinese college students with Childhood adversity: A longitudinal study

•This study used a longitudinal design to investigate the cross-sectional network structure and cross-lagged panel network (CLPN) of complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) in a large sample of college students who experienced childhood trauma.•Comparisons of the cross-sectional networks across two time points suggested some stability in the CPTSD symptoms networks. CLPN model identified the longitudinal relationship between symptoms.•Findings indicated particular attention should be paid to those with strong strength than other symptoms at each time point (feeling like a failure, exaggerated startle and avoid activities reminiscent of the trauma) and those with high out-EI (feel worthless, and feel like a failure) across time to design a comprehensive intervention plan. To enhance understanding of the longitudinal progression of complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) symptoms, this longitudinal study examined how CPTSD symptoms interact over time in Chinese college students with childhood trauma. From 18,933 college students who took part in two surveys 12 months apart, 4,006 participants who reported adverse childhood experiences were screened. Cross-sectional network comparisons and cross-lagged panel network (CLPN) analysis characterized interactions among CPTSD symptoms. In the cross-sectional networks, feeling like a failure and avoid activities reminiscent of the trauma were the central symptoms. Takes long time to calm down and exaggerated startle are important bridge symptoms in the two networks respectively. The comparison of cross-sectional networks indicates that the global network strength was stable. The findings of the CLPN model reveal that feel worthless and feel like a failure had the highest "out" expected influence; exaggerated startle and avoid thoughts and feelings about the trauma had the highest "in" expected influence. By conducting cross-sectional network analyses, the study illuminated the attributes of CPTSD networks across various time points. Additionally, the CLPN analysis uncovered the longitudinal patterns of CPTSD symptoms.