The Effects of COVID-19 Traumatic Stress and Cumulative Trauma on PTSD in a Sample of Internally Displaced Syrian Teenagers

Authors: van Nuenen M, Ashby J* and Kira I

DOI: 10.23880/pprij-16000427

Volume 9, Issue 3

Abstract

Studies have investigated the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and mental health and have shown evidence for the relationship between pandemic-related stress, trauma, and PTSD symptoms. Some have noted that the pandemic may put already vulnerable populations, such as internally displaced persons, at greater risk of developing mental health issues such as PTSD. The purpose of the present cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between COVID-19 traumatic stress, cumulative trauma, and PTSD symptoms in a sample of internally displaced Syrian teenagers residing in refugee camps on the Turkish-Syrian border. The study investigated whether COVID-19 traumatic stress predicted PTSD symptoms after controlling for cumulative trauma, and whether a moderation effect existed between COVID-19 traumatic stress and cumulative trauma in the prediction of PTSD symptoms. Regression results revealed that while COVID‐19 traumatic stress explained a statistically significant amount of the variance in PTSD beyond the effects of cumulative trauma alone, no statistically significant interaction existed between the two predictors. Current results extend knowledge of the pandemic’s impact on PTSD symptoms to a population already highly vulnerable to the psychological consequences of traumatic events (Norwegian Refugee Council, n.d.).

Keywords: Internally displaced populations; Teenagers; COVID-19 traumatic stress; Cumulative trauma; PTSD

View PDF