Exploring resilience as a mediator between social disruption due to COVID-19 post-traumatic stress symptoms during a global pandemic

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2024

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic poses a potential traumatic threat to psychological well-being which includes the challenges associated with prolonged social disruption (i.e., social distancing, confinement, job loss, and financial insecurity). Our study examined the prevalence of probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and endorsed associated Criterion B (intrusive symptoms), Criterion C (persistent avoidance of trauma- related stimuli), Criterion D (negative alterations in cognition and mood), and Criterion E (alterations in arousal and reactivity) symptoms among subjects affected by the pandemic, and whether resilience mediates the negative effect of social disruption due to COVID-19 on PTSD and its criterion symptoms. Method: Trauma-exposed participants (N = 306) recruited through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk completed measures on resilience, social disruption due to COVID-19, and PTSD seven months after the pandemic was declared a national emergency in the U.S. Results: Approximately 87% met the probable diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Distressing memories, avoiding external reminders, detachment or estrangement, and sleep disturbance were the most frequently endorsed Criterion B, C, D, and E symptoms, respectively. Resilience was found to mediate the relationship between social disruption due to COVID-19 and endorsed PTSD Criterion C and D symptoms and not for probable PTSD and endorsed Criterion B and E symptoms. Conclusions: Results provide preliminary evidence on the peritraumatic impact of COVID-19 due to social disruption and the mediating role of resilience on avoidance behaviors, distressing thoughts, and negative mood states associated with the pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)

Journal Title

North American Journal of Psychology

Volume

26

Issue

3

First Page

459

Last Page

480

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