Citation

Mekawi Y, Kuzyk E, Dixon HD, McKenna B, Camacho L, de Andino AM, Stevens J, Michopolous V, Powers A. Clinical Psychological Science 2021; 9(6): 1144-1163.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Association for Psychological Science, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/21677026211000723

PMID

35359798

PMCID

PMC8966626

Abstract

A person-centered approach to examining trauma has uncovered typologies of polytraumatization that are differentially associated with psychopathology. However, previous research is limited by narrow conceptualizations of trauma, limited distal outcomes, and underrepresentation of minorities. To address these gaps, we used latent profile analyses to uncover distinct polytraumatization typologies and examine four symptom-based (PTSD, depression, aggression, and substance abuse) and two behavior-based (self-harm, jail counts) outcomes in a sample of low-income adults (n = 7,426, 94% African American). The models were indicated by 19 traumatic experiences (e.g., accident, sexual assault, witnessing/experiencing violence). The best fitting model uncovered five classes: minimal trauma, physical abuse, violence exposure, sexual abuse, and polytrauma. Classes characterized by significant and varied trauma were higher on both internalizing and externalizing psychopathology, while those characterized by specific types of trauma were only higher on one type of psychopathology. Implications for the assessment and treatment of trauma-related disorders are discussed.

Language: en