Comparison Of The Ptsd Factor Structure Among Hispanics And Non-Hispanic Whites Affected By Hurricanes

Abstract

The Hispanic population in the United States (US), is a growing segment of the US population. This group is vulnerable to developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to minority-related stressors, financial insecurity, and their concentration in coastal regions prone to natural disasters. PTSD is a highly heterogeneous diagnosis with a complex factor structure. The factor structure within Hispanics may vary from Non-White Hispanic (NHW) individuals, the predominant group used in prior factor analytic work. Identifying such differences would inform culturally relevant theories of PTSD. Most prior research has focused on NHW samples or used DSM-IV criteria for Hispanics. The present study examined the PTSD factor structure in Hispanics after a natural disaster using the DSM-5 criteria. Invariance between Hispanics and NHW was also examined. The results of confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) indicated that the seven-factor Hybrid model exhibited superior model fit compared to the alternative models. There was strict invariance between Hispanics and NHW for this model. The findings suggest that a seven-factor hybrid model offers a reliable conceptualization of PTSD, and a more accurate assessment compared to extant models across Hispanics and NWHs