PTSD and complex PTSD in adolescence: discriminating factors in a population-based cross-sectional study

Figures & data

Table 1. Characteristics of study participants

Variable	Total sample (N = 205)	PTSD (n = 97)	CPTSD (n = 108)
	n (%)	n (%)	n (%)	Significance statistics	p
Gender
Male	62 (30.2)	30 (30.9)	32 (29.6)	χ^2(1) = 0.02	.880
Female	143 (69.8)	67 (69.1)	76 (70.4)
Age
Mean (SD)	14.40 (1.21)	14.34 (1.31)	14.45 (1.34)	t(188.501) = −0.67	.507
Range	12–16	12–16	12–16
Family structure
Two-parent	150 (73.2)	71 (73.2)	79 (73.1)	χ^2(1) = 0.00	1.000
Other	55 (26.8)	26 (26.8)	29 (26.9)
University education of parents
No	20 (9.8)	8 (8.3)	12 (11.1)
One/both of parents	148 (72.5)	71 (74.0)	77 (71.3)	χ^2(2) = 0.45	.799
Don’t know	36 (17.6)	17 (17.7)	19 (17.6)
Place of birth
Lithuania	202 (98.5)	96 (99.0)	106 (98.1)	F	1.000
Other	3 (1.5)	1 (1.0)	2 (1.9)
Nationality
Lithuanian	187 (91.2)	90 (92.8)	97 (89.8)	χ^2(1) = 0.82	.665
Other	14 (6.8)	5 (5.2)	9 (8.3)

Note: F = Fisher’s Exact Test.

Table 2. Prevalence of lifetime traumatic experiences

	Total (N = 205)	PTSD (n = 97)	CPTSD (n = 108)	Significance statistics
Trauma exposure	n (%)	n (%)	n (%)	χ^2(1)	p
1 Serious natural disaster like a flood, tornado, hurricane, earthquake, or fire	32 (15.6)	15 (15.5)	17 (15.7)	0.00	1.000
2 Serious accident or injury like a car/bike crash, dog bite, sports injury	128 (62.4)	63 (64.9)	65 (60.2)	0.31	.576
3 Robbed by threat, force or weapon	17 (8.3)	8 (8.2)	9 (8.3)	0.00	1.000
4 Slapped, punched, or beat up in your family	62 (30.2)	23 (23.7)	39 (36.1)	3.16	.075
5 Slapped, punched, or beat up by someone not in your family	75 (36.8)	28 (28.9)	47 (43.9)	4.34	.037
6 Seeing someone in your family get slapped, punched or beat up	61 (29.8)	30 (30.9)	31 (28.7)	0.04	.846
7 Seeing someone in the community get slapped, punched	108 (52.7)	48 (49.5)	60 (55.6)	0.53	.466
8 Someone older touching your private parts when they shouldn’t	20 (9.8)	8 (8.2)	12 (11.1)	0.21	.650
9 Someone forcing or pressuring sex, or when you couldn’t say no	9 (4.4)	5 (5.2)	4 (3.7)	F	.738
10 Someone close to you dying suddenly or violently	64 (31.2)	29 (29.9)	35 (32.4)	0.06	.813
11 Attacked, stabbed, shot at or hurt badly	8 (3.9)	4 (4.1)	4 (3.7)	F	1.000
12 Seeing someone attacked, stabbed, shot at, hurt badly or killed	31 (15.1)	12 (12.4)	19 (17.6)	0.72	.397
13 Stressful or scary medical procedure	113 (55.1)	50 (51.5)	63 (58.3)	0.70	.404
14 Being around war	5 (2.5)	2 (2.1)	3 (2.8)	F	1.000
Interpersonal trauma	160 (78)	68 (70.1)	92 (85.2)	5.93	.015
Cumulative trauma
1	41 (20)	26 (26.8)	15 (13.9)	4.55	.033
2–3	67 (32.7)	30 (30.9)	37 (34.3)	0.13	.720
4–5	61 (29.8)	24 (24.7)	37 (34.3)	1.79	.182
≥6	36 (17.6)	17 (17.5)	19 (17.6)	0.00	1.000
Mean (SD)	3.58 (2.04)	3.35 (2.19)	3.78 (1.89)	t(203) = −1.50	.135

Note: F = Fisher’s Exact Test.

Table 3. Social factors related to PTSD and CPTSD in adolescents’ sample

Variable	Total sample (N = 205)	PTSD (n = 97)	CPTSD (n = 108)
	n (%)	n (%)	n (%)	Significance statistics	p
Financial difficulties in family
No	189 (92.2)	94 (96.9)	95 (88.0)	χ^2(1) = 4.51	.034
Yes	16 (7.8)	3 (3.1)	13 (12.0)
Alcohol abuse in family
No	148 (72.2)	79 (81.4)	69 (63.9)	χ^2(1) = 6.96	.008
Yes	57 (27.8)	18 (18.6)	39 (36.1)
Mental illness in family
No	181 (88.3)	91 (93.8)	90 (83.3)	χ^2(1) = 4.46	.035
Yes	24 (11.7)	6 (6.2)	18 (16.7)
Constant conflicts in family
No	111 (54.7)	68 (70.1)	43 (40.6)	χ^2(1) = 16.66	<.001
Yes	92 (45.3)	29 (29.9)	63 (59.4)
Bullying at school
No	97 (47.5)	57 (58.8)	40 (37.4)	χ^2(1) = 8.49	.004
Yes	107 (52.5)	40 (37.4)	67 (62.7)
Learning difficulties at school
No	41 (20.2)	28 (29.2)	13 (12.1)	χ^2(1) = 8.07	.005
Yes	162 (79.8)	68 (70.8)	94 (87.9)
Social support
No	23 (11.3)	5 (5.2)	18 (16.7)	χ^2(1) = 5.57	.018
Yes	181 (88.7)	91 (94.8)	90 (83.3)

Table 4. Multivariable binary logistic analysis of factors associated with likelihood of complex PTSD

	CPTSD vs PTSD (n = 202)
Variables
	OR (95% CI)	p
1 Gender	1.29 (0.63–2.63)	.487
2 Age	1.14 (0.87–1.50)	.328
3 Family type	1.12 (0.53–2.33)	.785
4 Financial difficulties in family	4.36 (1.02–18.63)	.047
5 Alcohol abuse in family	1.73 (0.78–3.83)	.177
6 Mental illness in family	2.63 (0.83–8.32)	.099
7 Constant conflicts in family	3.14 (1.59–6.20)	.001
8 Bullying at school	2.53 (1.29–4.94)	.007
9 Learning difficulties at school	2.24 (0.97–5.16)	.060
10 Social support	0.26 (0.08–0.84)	.025
11 Cumulative trauma	0.95 (0.81–1.14)	.519

Note: OR = odds ratio, CI = confidence intervals.

Data availability

Data supporting the findings is not openly available due to ethical reasons. The participants of the study were adolescents. The informed consent for participation in the study was received from all adolescents and parents. The agreement to share the study data was not obtained.