The impact of social support on the relationship between trauma history and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in motor vehicle accident victims

• Published in: International journal of stress management 2012-02, Vol.19 (1), p.69-79
• Main Authors: Gabert-Quillen, Crystal A., Irish, Leah A., Sledjeski, Eve, Fallon, William, Spoonster, Eileen, Delahanty, Douglas L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Female; Human; Male; Motor Traffic Accidents; Patient History; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Social Support; Stress; Symptoms; Trauma
• ISSN: 1072-5245; 1573-3424
• DOI: 10.1037/a0026488

The present study examined how different types of social support differentially moderated the relationship between trauma history characteristics and the development of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSS) following a motor vehicle accident (MVA). Two hundred thirty-five MVA victims self-reported levels of social support and trauma history, and were evaluated for PTSS 6- and 12-months post-MVA. Results indicated that after controlling for gender, injury severity and income, number of prior trauma types, and subjective responses to prior traumatization predicted subsequent PTSS (ps < .05). Appraisal social support was a significant moderator of the total number of types of trauma (appraisal: 6-months β = –.16, p < .05; 12-months β = –.17, p < .05) and subjective physical injury during the prior trauma (appraisal: 6-months β = –.14, p < .05; 12-months β = –.19, p < .05) in predicting PTSS. Results underscore the importance of examining both trauma history and social support as multidimensional constructs and suggest merit to addressing social support in trauma victims with a prior trauma history. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)