Parallel Processes of Posttraumatic Stress and Metabolic Dysfunction: Long-Term Costs of Trauma on the Psychological and Physical Health of 9/11 Survivors

<p>Metabolic conditions (MetC) have been associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and may be critical indicators of the systemic physical sequelae of traumatic stress. Parallel process latent growth modeling wasapplied to longitudinal data collected from 35,788 9/11 survivors and used to model PTSD symptoms and MetC to determine how the development and course of one affect the other. A unidirectional relationship was found in which the intercept of PTSD symptoms predicted the slope of MetC. Hyperarousal (<em>ß</em>=.172) and emotional numbing (<em>ß</em>=.171) PTSD symptoms demonstrated the strongest association with the growth of MetC over and above the effects of general psychological distress, smoking history, and alcohol use when equally considering age, sex, race/ethnicity, pre-existing potentially traumatic events and physical health problems. Females and participants of color, particularly Asian participants and participants identified as American Indian, Alaskan Native, multiracial, or “other” demonstrated the strongest association between PTSD symptoms and MetC. Post-hoc analyses indicated utilization of PTSD-related psychotherapy was associated with decreased growth of MetC, suggesting a potential mitigating effect on the development and course of MetC following psychological trauma. Findings have strong implications for the evaluation and integrated treatment of a diverse range of individuals exposed to trauma and may help improve healthcare equity.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York

Year dc:date.available

2023

Author dc:creator

• Adams, Shane W

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Maureen Allwood

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Cathy Spatz Widom
• William Gottdiener
• Isaac Galatzer-Levy
• Wendy D'Andrea

• Clinical Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Psychology
• Theory and Philosophy
• Traumatic stress; PTSD; Metabolic; Cardiovascular; Mental Health; Physical Health

Repository record dc:identifier

https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/5545

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:academicworks.cuny.edu:gc_etds-6598