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The purpose of this study was to test if coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) traumatic stress predicts posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms after cumulative trauma and whether there is a three-way interaction between COVID-19 traumatic stress, cumulative trauma, and race in the prediction of PTSD. Using a cross-sectional design, a diverse sample of 745 participants completed measures of cumulative trauma, COVID-19 traumatic stress, and PTSD. COVID-19 traumatic stress accounted for a significant amount of the variance in PTSD above and beyond cumulative trauma. A significant interaction effect was found, indicating that the effect of COVID-19 traumatic stress in predicting PTSD varied as a function of cumulative trauma and that the effects of that interaction were different for Asians and Whites. There were generally comparable associations between COVID-19 traumatic stress and PTSD at low and high levels of cumulative trauma across most racial groups. However, for Asians, higher levels of cumulative trauma did not worsen the PTSD outcome as a function of COVID Traumatic Stress but did at low levels of cumulative trauma., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5) is the most widely used screening tool in assessing posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders (DSM-5) criteria. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the newly translated Bangla PCL-5., Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 10,605 individuals (61.0% male; mean age: 23.6 ± 5.5 [13-71 years]) during May and June 2020, several months after the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in Bangladesh. The survey included the Bangla PCL-5 and the PHQ-9 depression scale. We used confirmatory factor analysis to test the four-factor DSM-5 model, the six-factor Anhedonia model, and the seven-factor hybrid model., Results: The Bangla PCL-5 displayed adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.90). The Bangla PCL-5 score was significantly correlated with scores of the PHQ-9 depression scale, confirming strong convergent validity. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated the models had a good fit to the data, including the four-factor DSM-5 model, the six-factor Anhedonia model, and the seven-factor hybrid model. Overall, the seven-factor hybrid model exhibited the best fit to the data., Conclusions: The Bangla PCL-5 appears to be a valid and reliable psychometric screening tool that may be employed in the prospective evaluation of posttraumatic stress disorder in Bangladesh., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Compelling evidence proved that coronavirus disease (COVID-19) disproportionately affects minorities. The goal of the present study was to explore the effects of intersected discrimination and discrimination types on COVID-19, mental health, and cognition. A sample of 542 Iraqis, 55.7% females, age ranged from 18 to 73, with ( M = 31.16, SD = 9.77). 48.7% were Muslims, and 51.3% were Christians ( N = 278). We used measures for COVID-19 stressors, executive functions, intersected discrimination (gender discrimination, social groups-based discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination, and genocidal discrimination), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, status and death, existential anxieties, and health. We conducted independent samples t test between Muslims and Christians. We conducted hierarchical regression analyses using the Christian minority subsample to see if intersected discrimination is predictive of COVID-19 hospitalization. We conducted two-path analyses, one with intersected discrimination as an independent variable and the second with the different discrimination types as independent variables. Intersected discrimination predicted COVID-19 hospitalization. The primary discrimination type for Christians was genocidal discrimination. Christians had higher existential anxiety about status and death than Muslims. Intersected discrimination and discrimination types had a significant association with mental health, health, and cognition variables, with intersected discrimination, had a higher impact than each. Existential anxiety about the person's social and economic status was the critical outcome of intersected discrimination that trickles down to other variables. COVID-19 stressors had significant effects on depression, PTSD, generalized anxiety, and Status existential annihilation anxiety (EAA). COVID-19 hospitalization and stressors are associated with inhibition and working memory deficits. We discussed the conceptual and clinical implications of the results. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

The current study aimed to explore how COVID-19-traumatized populations cope using a coping model based on wills to exist, live, and survive (WTELS) that leads to positive coping and posttraumatic growth (PTG). We used data from 11 Arab countries (N = 2732), including Egypt (N = 831), and included measures for COVID-19 stressors (COVID-fear, economic, lockdown, and grief stressors), WTELS, resilience, religiosity, spirituality, social support, and PTG. We conducted ANOVA on the main sample to explore the differences between Arab countries, hierarchical regressions, and path analysis on the Egyptian subsample to test a model of the effects on WTELS. In the path model, WTELS was the independent variable. Other coping strategies were mediating variables, and COVID-19 stressor types were outcome variables. ANOVA on the main sample indicated that Egypt was the highest on COVID-19 stressors (infection fears, economic, lockdown, and grief stressors), actual infection, and WTELS. Hierarchical regression indicated that social support, resilience, and WTELS were positive predictors of PTG, with WTELS had the highest effect size (β =.41) and WTELS being a negative predictor of COVID-19 stressors, while resilience and social support were not. Path analysis indicated that WTELS predicted higher religiosity, spirituality, social support, resilience, and lower COVID-19 stressors. Religiosity predicted higher spirituality, social support, and resilience and lower COVID-19 stressors. Interfaith spirituality predicted higher resilience and lower COVID-19 grief stressors. The results validated the central role of WTELS. Results helped to identify potentially effective interventions with COVID-19 victims that focus on WTELS, spirituality, and religiosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the continuous traumatic stress type III paradigm, the current study aimed to explore the proliferation of previous and concurrent continuous type III traumas to COVID-19 stressors. In two samples from the USA (N = 745) and the Syrian internally displaced (N = 891), we used COVID-19 stressors and cumulative trauma measures. Childhood adversities and intersected discrimination predicted higher COVID-19 stressors in the American sample. Intergroup conflict, intersected discrimination, and chronic, life-threatening health conditions predicted higher COVID-19 stressors in the Syrian sample. Cumulative trauma in both samples predicted higher COVID-19 stressors and accounted for slightly higher variance. The conceptual and clinical implications were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many aspects of daily life, but relatively little is known about COVID-19-related stress for subgroups in the population. We examined differences in COVID-stress and depression as a function of gender, race, ethnicity, and subjective social status. We tested these factors as moderators of the association between COVID-stress and depression. We used a cross-sectional design to test associations between sociodemographic factors, COVID-stress, and depression. Analyses were based on confirmatory factor analytic and structural equations models. A convenience sample of 1,058 U.S. MTurk workers and college students (54.5% cisgender women; 55.1% racial/ethnic minoritized individuals) was recruited. Participants completed self-report measures of COVID-stress and depression. COVID-stress was positively associated with depression. Overall, neither gender nor racial minoritized status moderated COVID-stress effects on depression. However, intersectional analyses revealed COVID-stress was a significant risk factor for depression among Black women compared to other participants. COVID-stress was more strongly linked to depression for Hispanic individuals and participants with higher social status. Future studies may benefit from the COVID-stress scale evaluated in this study and by considering the differential effects of sociodemographic factors on psychological functioning during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the etiology of complex PTSD (CPTSD), we used data from the Syrian internally displaced (N = 891) and measures for trauma, CPTSD, and COVID-19 stressors. We performed hierarchical regression and path analyses. Type III trauma (continuous traumatic stressors) was the strongest predictor of CPTSD, compared to types 1 and II. Intersected discrimination (type III-a trauma) was the strongest predictor of CPTSD, followed by early childhood adversities (type III-b) and COVID-19 stressors. Cumulative stressors and traumas predicted CPTSD with a slightly larger effect size. There were three amplification/proliferation bi-directional loops between intersected discrimination and childhood traumas, COVID-19, and intergroup conflict. The conceptual and clinical implications were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a need to accurately assess the specific impacts of the various traumatic stressors caused by COVID-19 on mental health. The goal was to evaluate the impact of different types of COVID-19 stressors (infection fears, lockdown, and economic stressors) on mental health and cognitive functioning. We used a sample of 262 Turkish adults. We administered an online questionnaire that included measures of COVID-19 traumatic stressors, PTSD, depression, anxiety, executive function deficits, and cumulative stressors and traumas (CST). The analyses included correlations, hierarchical regression, path analysis, and PROCESS mediation analysis. All COVID-19 traumatic stressors types and their cumulative load predicted PTSD, depression, anxiety, and executive function deficits after controlling for previous cumulative stressors and traumas and COVID-19 infection. COVID-19 lockdown's stressors were the strongest predictors, compared to COVID-19 fears and economic stressors. Path analysis and PROCESS mediation results indicated that COVID-19 traumatic stressors had direct effects on working memory deficits, direct and indirect effects on PTSD, depression, and anxiety, and indirect effects on inhibition deficits. Anxiety, depression, and inhibition deficits mediated its indirect effects on PTSD. The results have conceptual and clinical implications. COVID-19 continuous posttraumatic stress syndrome that includes comorbid PTSD, depression, anxiety, and executive function deficits is different and does not fit within the current trauma frameworks. There is a need for a paradigm shift in current stress and trauma frameworks to account for the COVID-19 continuous global stressors and for clinical innovations in intervention to help its victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is compelling evidence that COVID-19 disproportionately affects minorities. We aim to explore the impact of intersected discrimination (ID) on COVID-19 infection. The study utilized a sample of 458 participants, (59.8% female) with an age range from 18 to 70 (M = 28.17, SD = 10.17). We used measures for COVID-19 stressors (included questions about infection and its severity), executive functioning, cumulative stressors and traumas (included a subscale for ID), PTSD, anxiety, and depression. We conducted correlations, hierarchical multiple regression, and path analysis. Results indicated that ID was the strongest predictor of COVID-19 infection and its severity. COVID-19 stressors were associated with depression, anxiety, PTSD, executive function, and COVID-19 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal was to explore the impact of COVID-19 on stress and coping. We collected data two times from seven Arab countries with 10 months in between. We used measures for COVID-19 stressors, social support, resilience, wills to exist, live and survive (WTELS), spirituality, PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidality and health. We conducted t-test between times 1 and 2. Results showed that COVID-19 perceived stress as well as resilience, social support, and WTELS decreased. Spirituality significantly increased. The high PTSD was stable with increased comorbidity of anxiety, depression and suicidality and decreased health. The clinical implications of the results were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 virus has a neuropsychiatric impact, including mild cognitive impairment. Most severe traumas negatively impact executive functions. However, the impact of COVID-19 trauma on cognition is unknown. To test the effects of COVID-19 traumatic stress on executive functions, we surveyed 417 Syrian refugees using measures for COVID-19 traumatic stress, executive functions, PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Using step multiple regression and PROCESS mediation analysis, COVID-19 traumatic stress and its three fears, economic and social components, directly and indirectly, affect increased working memory and inhibition deficits via PTSD and depression. We discussed the conceptual and clinical implications of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal was to develop and validate a measure for COVID-19 as traumatic stress. The scale consisted of three dimensions: "threat/fear of infection and death," "economic hardship," and "disturbed routines/isolation." The measure was tested on a snowball sample of 1374 participants from seven countries online. Principal and confirmatory factor analysis conducted on separate subsamples randomly drawn from the sample proved its structural validity. Measures of PTSD, depression, anxiety, cumulative traumas, and well-being were used to test its convergent, divergent, and predictive validity. Results validated the reliability, the structural, convergent, divergent, and predictive validity of the scale and its subscales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]