Psychological Science Faculty Publications

The Association Between Peritraumatic Dissociation and Race-Based Trauma Symptoms: The Role of Negative Cognitions

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-2025

Abstract

Peritraumatic dissociation is a risk factor for the development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Per the cognitive model of PTSD and empirical research, cognitive appraisals mediate the relationship between peritraumatic dissociation and PTSD. Racial trauma has recently been conceptualized as a psychological sequelae to racism and discrimination that involves a posttraumatic stress reaction to experiences of racism and discrimination. Given the theoretical parallels between PTSD and racial trauma, we hypothesized that negative cognitions would intervene in the relationship between peritraumatic dissociation and racial trauma. To test this hypothesis, we examined whether negative cognitions about the self and the world and self-blame intervened in the relationship between peritraumatic dissociation and racial trauma among 220 minoritized participants. The results indicated that negative views about the self (b = .24) and the world (b = .18), but not self-blame intervened in the relationship between peritraumatic dissociations and racial trauma. These findings provide some insight regarding how negative cognitions relate to peritraumatic dissociations and racial trauma, allowing for a discussion of potential treatment implications.

Comments

Student publication.

https://www.tandfonline.com/share/ZKWW7QJAEKG2KFHUVEMF?target=10.1080/10926771.2024.2447701

Publication Title

Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma

DOI

10.1080/10926771.2024.2447701

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