Understanding the Impact of Trauma Exposure on Posttraumatic Stress Symptomatology: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of trauma exposure on the posttraumatic stress symptomatology (PTSS) of children who resided near the epicenter of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. The mechanisms of this impact were explored via structural equation models with self-esteem and coping strategies included as mediators. The findings suggested that the effect of trauma exposure was partially mediated by self-esteem, which subsequently affected coping strategies and finally determined PTSS. These results imply that self-esteem and coping strategies may impact children's resilience to trauma exposure.

Acknowledgments

The study was supported by the Project for Young Scientists Fund (Grant YOCX142S01), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31100754), and the Emergency Project to Provide Psychological Assistance in Wenchuan Earthquake Areas (KKCX1-YW-05).

Notes

*p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001.

Note. GFI* = p/(2Dk + p) = p/[2(χ² − df)/(N − 1) + p]; AGFI* = 1 − [p(p + 1)/2df] × (1 − GFI*). In the equations, p is the number of observation variables and N is the population of the model.

*p < .05.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Wei Chen

Wei Chen is a doctoral student in the Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Science. She played an active and important role in the research programs on the mental health of victimized children in the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.

Long Wang

Long Wang is a postgraduate in the Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Science. He is interested in factors influencing children's behavior and mental health.

Xing-Li Zhang

Xing-Li Zhang is an assistant professor in the Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Science. Her research interests are the development of cognition and socialization of special children.

Jian-Nong Shi

Jian-Nong Shi is a principal investigator in the Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Science. His research interests are the development of emotion, personality, and cognition of special children.