The mediating effect of depression between exposure to potentially traumatic events and PTSD in news journalists

Figures & data

Table 1. Summary of sex differences in PTAs, PTEs, PTSD, and depression

Variable	Female M (SD)	Male M (SD)	t	df
PTAs (n = 357)	1.32 (1.88)	2.24 (2.89)	3.40**	246
PTEs in personal life (n = 407)	3.65 (2.17)	4.27 (2.65)	2.53*	338
PTSD (n = 352)	26.27 (9.38)	24.12 (8.21)	2.24*	350
Depression (n = 407)	2.74 (3.11)	2.18 (3.08)	ns	405

*p<.05, **p<.01.

Table 2. Most frequent types of PTAs in the past year

Assignment type	Exposed one or more times (N=357)
Motor vehicle accident	37% (n=133)
Fire with casualties or deaths	20% (n=70)
Subject with life-threatening illness	18% (n=63)

Fig. 1.  Theoretical model of a mediation equation. This model is a modified version of the model by Kenny (2012) (Reproduced with permission from David A. Kenny).

Fig. 2.  Mediation analysis on the relationship between exposure to PTAs and PTSD. Summary of an analysis of the mediating effect of depressive symptoms on the relationship between exposure to PTAs and PTSD symptoms. C represents the predictive value of PTAs on PTSD before including depression into the equation; C’ the value after including depression.

Table 3. Summary of an analysis of the mediating effect of depression between exposure to PTAs and PTSD, controlling for sex (n=352)

	B	SE B	β
Analysis of path C^a (R=.19, R ^2=.03, Adj. R ^2=.03)
PTAs	0.54	0.20	.15**
Male sex (controlled)	−2.63	0.97	−.15**
Analysis of path A^b (R=.17, R ^2=.03, Adj. R ^2=.02)
PTAs	0.18	0.07	.14*
Male sex (controlled)	−0.82	0.34	−.13*
Analysis of paths B and C’^c (R=.64, R ^2=.40, Adj. R ^2=.40)
PTAs	0.22	0.16	.06
Depression	1.76	0.12	.62***
Male sex (controlled)	−1.19	0.77	−.07

*p<.05, **p<.01, ***p<.001.

^aRegression analysis of PTAs as predictor of symptoms of PTSD, controlling for sex.

^bRegression analysis of PTAs as predictor of symptoms of depression, controlling for sex.

^cRegression analysis of PTAs and symptoms of depression as predictors of symptoms of PTSD, controlling for sex.

B Is the unstandardized regression coefficient

Fig. 3.  Mediation analysis on the relationship between exposure to personal life PTEs and PTSD. Summary of an analysis of the mediating effect of depressive symptoms on the relationship between exposure to PTEs in personal life and PTSD symptoms. C represents the predictive value of PTEs on PTSD before including depression into the equation; C’ the value after including depression.

Table 4. Summary of an analysis of the mediating effect of depression between exposure to PTEs in personal life and PTSD, controlling for sex (n=352)

	B	SE B	β
Analysis of path C^a (R=.32, R ^2=.10, Adj. R ^2=.10)
PTEs in personal life	1.09	0.19	.30***
Male sex (controlled)	−2.78	0.92	−.15**
Analysis of path A^b (R=.25, R ^2=.06, Adj. R ^2=.06)
PTEs in personal life	0.29	0.07	.23***
Male sex (controlled)	−0.82	0.33	−.13*
Analysis of paths B and C’^c (R=.65, R ^2=.43, Adj. R ^2=.42)
PTEs in personal life	0.60	0.15	.17***
Depression	1.68	0.12	.59***
Male sex (controlled)	−1.39	0.75	−.08

*p<.05, ** p<.01, *** p<.001.

^aRegression analysis of PTEs as predictor of symptoms of PTSD, controlling for sex.

^bRegression analysis of PTEs as predictor of symptoms of depression, controlling for sex.

^cRegression analysis of PTEs and symptoms of depression as predictors of symptoms of PTSD, controlling for sex.

B Is the unstandardized regression coefficient

Kenny, D. A. (2012, April 3). Mediation. Retrieved from http://davidakenny.net/cm/mediate.htmAccessed: April 10, 2012.

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