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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]

The goal is to test the validity of the "Will to exist-live and survive (WTELS) as a master motivator that activates executive functions. A sample of 262 adults administered different measures that included WTELS and executive functions. We conducted hierarchical regressions with working memory deficits (WMD) and inhibition deficits (ID) as dependent variables. We entered in the last steps resilience and WTELS as independent variables. We conducted path analysis with WTELS as independent variables and WMD and ID as outcome variables and resilience and social support as mediating variables. WTELS accounted for the high effect size for lower working memory deficits and medium effect size for lower inhibition deficits. In path analysis, the effects of WTELS on decreased WMD were direct, while its effects on the ID were indirect. PROCESS analysis indicated that WTELS was directly associated with lower depression, anxiety, PTSD, and COVID-19 traumatic stress, and its indirect effects were mediated by lower executive function deficits (Kira et al., Psych 12:992-1024 2021c, Kira et al., in press). The path model discussed was generally superior to the alternative models and was strictly invariant across genders (male/ female). [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 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 study investigated the predictive validity of Criterion A for PTSD and evaluated a new development-based trauma dynamic non-linear system paradigm that considers global trauma dynamics of accumulation and trauma proliferation. We conducted secondary analyses of two combined samples (clinical sample N = 1048, and non-clinical sample N = 1706) that used measures for trauma and PTSD. We performed a hierarchical regression to test the incremental predictive validity of adding additional stress and trauma types. To test the non-linear dynamics of cumulative trauma and trauma types, we conducted curve estimation regression. We performed path analysis and PROCESS macro to examine the potential mediating roles of these factors in predicting PTSD. We also examined possible gender differences in the path models. Results of the study indicated that adding the non-criterion A traumas of attachment and collective identity trauma types (a non-criterion A stressors) resulted in the increased incremental predictive validity of criterion A over six-fold and fully mediated the effects of Criterion A on PTSD. The non-linear models of the relationship between trauma and PTSD explained over three times the variance explained by the linear model. The path models were found to be strongly invariant across genders. We concluded that adopting a development-based trauma paradigm, and expanding Criterion A in a formula that includes such stressor/ trauma types and their dynamics, should increase its predictive validity and advance our understanding of PTSD etiology and its non-linear dynamics and improve on current prevention and intervention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of discrimination on the Egyptian Christians minority' mental health has never been evaluated. The current study utilised Egyptian data that included 247 Christian. The data included measures for discrimination, identity salience, interfaith spirituality, religiosity, "Will to Exist, Live and Survive" (WTELS), reappraisal, self-esteem, posttraumatic growth, collective existential annihilation anxiety (Col-EAA), psychopathology, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We conducted a T-test, stepwise regressions, and path analysis. Discrimination predicted Col-EAA and PTSD, while WTELS and spirituality were protective against Col-EAA. Discrimination had direct effects on higher Col-EAA, and indirect effects on higher PTSD, internalising and thought disorders, and negative effects on self-esteem. Col-EAA had negative effects on reappraisal, self-esteem, and positive effects on PTSD, externalising, internalising, and thought disorders. Identity salience had positive effects on reappraisal and indirect effects on self-esteem. It had indirect effects on lower externalising, internalising, and thought disorders. Discrimination negatively impacts Egyptian Christian mental health. However, their strong identity, WTELS, and interfaith spirituality are protective factors. We discussed the implications of these results from mental health and social justice perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this paper is to examine the validity of the Traumatology perspective of the dynamics underlying the adverse mental health effects of gender discrimination (GD) on females' across two different cultural samples. The study was conducted in two samples from Poland (N=277), and Egypt (N=319). To measure GD, we utilized measures of gender discrimination (GD) by parents (GD-P), GD by society (GD-S), internalized gender discrimination (IGD), and GD resistance (GDR). To measure mental health, we utilized measures of internalizing, externalizing, and thought disorders (psychoticism). Further, we used tests for self-esteem, authoritarianism. To control for the effects of other stressors and traumas we used a measure for cumulative stressors and traumas. Path analysis indicated that GD-P in both samples was associated with internalized gender discrimination, internalizing, externalizing, psychoticism and authoritarianism. GD-S predicted lower self-esteem, higher psychoticism, externalizing and internalizing behavior. The model accounted for 40–50% of the variance in internalizing and was invariant on the configural and metric levels. We discussed the implications of the results to intervention and prevention of GD and for future directions in gender research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the current study is to explore the impact of different trauma types and some personality dynamics and their interactions on enhancing or impeding posttraumatic growth (PTG). We proposed a framework that describes such interactions based on the dual information processing systems theory. A sample of 620 college students from two Egyptian universities was tested. We used the Almost Perfect Measure (i.e., high standards, order, and self-discrepancy) to measure in part the precognitive value processing system (VPS), along with measures of PTG, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex PTSD, as well as a cumulative trauma scale that measures different trauma types. We used path analysis to test the proposed framework. Results confirmed the basic premises of the framework and replicated previous findings of the differential contribution of trauma types (based on their severity) to PTG. Striving for "standards" and "order" contributed significantly to PTG and predicted a significant reduction in mental health syndromes whereas self-discrepancy predicted decreases in PTG and increases in mental health symptoms. Furthermore, the results highlighted some of the trajectories resulted from the interface among personality dynamics, trauma severity, and suffering. We discuss the implications of the results for future research and interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the effects of bullying victimization (BV), as a Type II traumatic stressor, on intelligence quotient (IQ), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and complex PTSD symptoms. Participants were 390 African American and Iraqi refugee adolescents. Measures of BV, cumulative life trauma, PTSD, discrimination, and IQ were administered. Correlational, multilevel regression, and path analyses were conducted. BV, independent of cumulative trauma, and discrimination were found to have significant direct effects on increased PTSD symptoms and significant direct and indirect negative effects on perceptual reasoning, processing speed, and working memory. BV was also associated with increases in the discrepancy between perceptual reasoning and verbal comprehension. The implications of these results for the prevention and treatment of bullying victims are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attachment disruptions, other traumas, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and intelligence quotient (IQ) were measured in a sample of 181 African American adolescents. Path analysis was utilized to test the effects of different types of attachment disruptions on IQ and PTSD. Findings supported that mother and father abandonments and being in foster care are associated with decreased perceptual reasoning, processing speed, and working memory, and increased discrepancy between perceptual and verbal toward decreased perceptual reasoning. Such suppression and discrepancy contribute to poor academic achievement. Results validated the traumatology perspective on attachment disruptions as traumas that are associated with PTSD, suppression of most IQ potentials, and with potential brain hemispheric desynchronization. The ramifications of these results for helping African American adolescents are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]