Social Acknowledgment, Individual Posttraumatic Cognitions, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and their associations following Trauma Exposure

Lack of social acknowledgment for one’s experience as a trauma survivor, including perceptions of disapproval from society and family and friends, has consistently been found to be associated with PTSD severity. However, the directionality of this relationship (whether lack of social acknowledgment contributes to PTSD severity or vice versa) and mediators of this relationship have yet to be studied. Theory holds that negative social interactions may influence posttraumatic cognitions that may in turn, influence PTSD severity. This theory has yet to be examined empirically. The aim of the current study was to examine the dynamic relationships among perceived lack of social acknowledgment, PTSD severity, and posttraumatic cognitions over 12 months in adults (N = 153) recently exposed to a traumatic event. Every 4 months for 1 year participants were assessed with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, Social Acknowledgment as a Victim Questionnaire, and Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory. Bivariate latent difference score modelling indicated that PTSD severity decreased over time and greater endorsement of perceived general disapproval at earlier time points predicted diminished reductions in PTSD severity between each assessment. Similarly, greater endorsement of dysfunctional posttraumatic cognitions predicted diminished reduction in PTSD severity across each assessment. Contrary to hypothesis, greater endorsement of posttraumatic cognitions predicted diminished reduction in general disapproval and family/friends’ disapproval but not vice versa. Thus, the hypothesis that posttraumatic cognitions mediate the relationship between perceived lack of social acknowledgment and PTSD severity was not supported. Findings suggest that perceived general disapproval and dysfunctional posttraumatic cognitions may impede trauma recovery. Future research is needed to better understand the constructs of perceived lack of social acknowledgment and dysfunctional posttraumatic cognitions.