Multidimensional resiliency factors and psychopathology after acute trauma: Results from a prospective cohort study

AI Summary

Interpersonal and regulatory resiliency domains each predict fewer depression and PTSD symptoms three months posttrauma, with interpersonal strengths exerting stronger effects when modelled together.
Within interpersonal strengths, greater emotional support and supportive networks associate with lower depressive and PTSD symptoms; social engagement shows no protective association.
Among regulatory factors, higher trait resilience predicts fewer symptoms, self-efficacy has mixed associations, and mindfulness measured as nonreactive observation links to greater symptoms.

AI Summary

We first used structural equation modeling to examine higher level regulatory and interpersonal strength domains following acute trauma exposure and their relative associations with symptoms of depression or PTSD at 3 months posttrauma.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest enhancing interpersonal resiliency, above and beyond regulatory strengths, may be crucial in the aftermath of acute trauma, with emotional support and supportive networks as especially strong potential buffers against posttraumatic psychopathology. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Basic summary

Psychol Trauma. 2026 Jun 25. doi: 10.1037/tra0002183. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Preventing posttraumatic psychopathology (e.g., depression or posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) following an acute traumatic event requires attention to modifiable factors that may protect against such psychopathology. In this study, we aimed to identify the relative contributions of resiliency factors across multiple domains to posttraumatic psychopathology and to delineate subcomponents that may be most influential.

METHOD: This study leveraged prospective data from 2,043 trauma-exposed individuals recruited from emergency departments in the Advancing Understanding of RecOvery afteR traumA Study. We first used structural equation modeling to examine higher level regulatory and interpersonal strength domains following acute trauma exposure and their relative associations with symptoms of depression or PTSD at 3 months posttrauma. We then tested which specific factors within these domains were associated with 3-month symptoms.

RESULTS: Both regulatory and interpersonal strength domains were linked to fewer symptoms of depression and PTSD 3 months later, though relational strengths were more strongly associated than regulatory strengths when modeled together. Within interpersonal strengths, higher levels of emotional support and supportive networks, but not social engagement, were associated with lower depressive and PTSD symptoms. Within regulatory strengths, trait resilience was associated with lower depressive and PTSD symptoms, and self-efficacy showed mixed associations, whereas mindfulness (measured as nonreactively observing internal experiences) was associated with higher symptoms.

PMID:42347781 | DOI:10.1037/tra0002183

Document this CPD