Resilience predicts posttraumatic cognitions after a trauma reminder task and subsequent positive emotion induction among veterans with PTSD

Abstract

Objective: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common problem for veterans. Resilience, the tendency to bounce back from difficult circumstances, is negatively associated with posttraumatic cognitions (PTCs) among individuals with a history of trauma, and thus it may be important to understand responses to trauma reminders. Methods: Using a quasi-experimental design, we examined the association between trait resilience and state PTCs in veterans with PTSD $(n = 47, M_\textit{age} = 48.60, 91.8%$ male$)$ at two points: following a written trauma narrative exposure (Time 1 [T1]), and following a subsequent positive distraction task (i.e., brief, positive video) (T2). Results: After controlling for PTSD symptom severity and combat exposure, resilience was negatively associated with PTCs at T1 $(\Delta R^2 = .19)$ and T2 $(\Delta R^2 = .13)$. However, resilience was a poor predictor of change in PTCs from T1 to T2. We also examined the relationship between resilience and subtypes of PTCs: resilience was associated with negative views of the self $($T1, $\Delta R^2 = .24)$ but not negative views of the world or self-blame $($T1, $\Delta R^{2s} \leq .07)$; these results were consistent at T2. Conclusions: Thus, resilience may buffer against negative trauma-related cognitions after trauma recall. Future research could examine whether resilience-building exercises reduce negative PTCs after trauma reminders among veterans. Additional research is needed to generalize to other trauma-exposed populations.

@article{szaboResiliencePredicts2022,
  title = {Resilience predicts posttraumatic cognitions after a trauma reminder task and subsequent positive emotion induction among veterans with PTSD},
  author = {Yvette Z. Szabo and Sheila B. Frankfurt and A. Solomon Kurz and Austen R. Anderson and Adam P. McGuire},
  journal = {Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy},
  year = 2022,
  volume = 14,
  number = S1,
  page = S101–S108,
  doi = {https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001143}
}