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. 2013 Jan;5(1):69-76.
doi: 10.1037/a0022381.

Modeling the Relationship between Trauma and Psychological Distress among HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Women

Ayesha Delany Brumsey  1 , Nataria T Joseph  1 , Hector F Myers  1 , Jodie B Ullman  2 , Gail E Wyatt  3
Affiliations

Modeling the Relationship between Trauma and Psychological Distress among HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Women

Ayesha Delany Brumsey et al. Psychol Trauma. 2013 Jan.

Abstract

This study investigated the association between cumulative exposure to multiple traumatic events and psychological distress, as mediated by problematic substance use and impaired psychosocial resources. A sample of HIV-positive and HIV-negative women were assessed for a history of childhood and adult sexual abuse and non-sexual trauma as predictors of psychological distress (i.e., depression, non-specific anxiety, and posttraumatic stress), as mediated by problematic alcohol and drug use and psychosocial resources (i.e., social support, self-esteem and optimism). Structural equation modeling confirmed that cumulative trauma exposure is positively associated with greater psychological distress, and that this association is partially mediated through impaired psychosocial resources. However, although cumulative trauma was associated with greater problematic substance use, substance use did not mediate the relationship between trauma and psychological distress.

Keywords: HIV; Psychological Distress; Substance Use; Trauma.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Hypothesized structural equation model. The majority of error terms and variances are not displayed for ease of presentation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Model in HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants. Paths in bold are moderated by HIV-status and have different path coefficients for HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants. The majority of error terms and variances have been left out of this figure for ease of presentation. *p<.05.
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