Measuring abuse sequelae: Validating and extending the Trauma Symptom Checklist-40

abstract: The current study used the Trauma Symptom Checklist-40 (TSC-40) to index both childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and childhood physical abuse (CPA) in a college student sample of both men and women (N = 441). Although the TSC-40 was designed as a measure of CSA trauma, this study concludes the measure is appropriately reliable for indexing the traumatic sequelae of CPA as well as CSA in nonclinical samples. The current study also explored the effects of gender and abuse severity on resulting symptomatology, finding that women and severely abused individuals report the most negative sequelae. Both CSA and CPA emerged as significant explanatory variables in TSC-40 scale scores beyond gender, supporting its validity for indexing traumatic sequelae in nonclinical samples

Group music therapy for college-aged survivors of sexual violence: a mixed methods evaluation of participant perceptions and symptom reduction

2020 Summer.Includes bibliographical references.Previous research suggests that music therapy intervention may be helpful in the healing journey of survivors of sexual violence. The purpose of this study was to determine: 1. What symptom changes did participants experience as a result of an eight-week music therapy group? 2. How did participants perceive their experiences in an eight-week music therapy group? This mixed methods study was conducted using a one group pretest-posttest concurrent triangulation design. Participants (N=5) completed pretest measures of the TSC-40 and an initial interview before completing an eight-week music therapy group. Upon conclusion of the program, participants (n=4) completed the posttest measures of TSC-40, posttest questionnaire, and semi-structured interview. Participants (n=4) demonstrated overall improvement in TSC-40 full scale and subsets from pretest to posttest suggesting efficacy of music therapy intervention. Furthermore, participants (N=5) reported positive perceptions of the music therapy group. An analysis of qualitative data revealed the eight coded themes of mood modulation, drumming, sense of community, emotional processing, vulnerability/opening, music therapy process, increased comfort, and coping skills. These eight coded subthemes overlapped to reveal the four broader themes of music, exploration and expression of trauma-associated feelings, formation of trust, and perceived positive change. Clinician-delivered interventions in the context of group music therapy have the potential to effect positive change for survivors of sexual violence. Future research should focus on replication of existing studies to address effectiveness of music therapy intervention across specific survivor subset populations with the goal of determining dosage, optimal program length, and most effective music therapy interventions. As individuals continue to be victimized and survivors continue to come forward, the music therapy field requires the creation and implementation of additional trauma-specific groups to meet the ongoing needs of college-aged survivors of sexual violence

The Relationships among the Experiences of Racial Microaggressions in Supervision, Traumatic Experiences, and the Supervisory Working Alliance in Professional Counselors and Counselors-in-Training

Supervision of counseling services is a crucial component to professional counselor development (Bernard & Goodyear, 2009). A common and pervasive threat to cross-cultural interpersonal relationships, such as supervision, is the presence of racial microaggressions (Constantine & Sue, 2007). According to Carter (2007) and Helms, Nicholas, and Green (2012), microaggressions are so damaging, that they may even trigger traumatic responses in recipients. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among racial microaggressions in supervision, the supervisory working alliance, and traumatic symptomatology in supervisees. This study collected survey data from 86 participants who self-identified as racial, ethnic, or cultural minority group members and who were counselors-in-training, professional counselors, or counselor educators. Data collection included responses to demographic questions, the adapted Experiences of Black Supervisors Scale (EBSS adapted; Barnes, 2011), the Trauma Symptom Check-list 40 (TSC-40; Elliot & Briere, 1992), and the Supervisory Working Alliance Inventory – Trainee Version (SWAI-T; Efstation, Patton, & Kardash, 1990). Bivariate correlations revealed significant relationships among all three of the main variables. The SWAI-T full-scale scores had a moderate negative correlation with the EBSS (adapted) full-scale scores (r = -.637, p \u3c .01) and a moderate negative correlation with the TSC-40 full-scale scores (r = -.372, p \u3c .01). The EBSS (adapted) full-scale scores had a moderate positive correlation with the TSC-40 full-scale scores (r = .513, p \u3c .01). Regression analysis yielded a model whereby 40.6% of the variation in the supervisory alliance can be explained by microaggressions in supervision F (1, 48) = 32.752, p \u3c .01. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis determined that the presence of traumatic experiences does not add to the predictive capacity of the model. The results suggest that the presence of racial microaggressions is an important impediment to the supervisory working alliance. Implications, limitations, and future directions were provided

Variasi Jarak Antar Layer Bentonit Pada Pembuatan Nanokomposit Pla-Bentonit Sebagai Kemasan Makanan

In this study, bentonite was used as a filler in the synthesis of polylactic acid (PLA) nanocomposite. The mechanical property of PLA-Bentonite nanocomposite was treated using two different surfactants, namely octadecyl amine (ODA) and trimethyl stearyl ammonium chloride (TSC) at two different concentration (20 mmol and 40 mmol). The treatments of ODA and TSC in the matrix with regards to the basal spacing of bentonite stacks  measured by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis. The results showed a significant increase in basal spacing was obtained when TSC 40 was applied for treatment. Data of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) suggested that this increase was caused by the incorporation of surfactant into the bentonite stacks. Most of the PLA-Bentonite nanocomposite can form intercalation structure, while a sample containing TSC 40 formed exfoliation structure. This exfoliation structure resulted in a film with the best tensile strength and water vapor permeability compared to the others. The film containing TSC 40 showed the lowest reduction in water activity, almost similar to the bread sample wrapped using conventional plastic. The bread wrapped with TSC 40 film was not grown by fungi as opposed to the conventional plastic, showing the potential of the nanocomposite film as food packaging

Childhood Maltreatment, Mental Health, and Interpersonal Conflict in Current Adult Relationships

Childhood maltreatment (CM) is an issue in society that affects mental health outcomes and adult interpersonal relationships. The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate the relationship between CM, mental health symptoms, and interpersonal conflict in emerging adult relationships in a nonclinical population of college students that varied in CM history. A sample of 104 UNC students self-reported mental health and trauma symptoms, interpersonal conflict, and CM history as a part of a larger longitudinal study examining CM and college adaptation. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), Trauma Symptom Checklist-40 (TSC-40), and Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2) were administered online. Consistent with past research, CM history was positively correlated with various mental health difficulties. All CM subscales except Sexual Abuse were positively associated with all interpersonal conflict scales, and various mental health symptoms were positively correlated with interpersonal conflict. Mediation analyses demonstrated that overall trauma symptoms fully mediated the relationship between CM and psychological aggression by the partner and self, as well as sexual coercion by the partner. In addition, the TSC-40 SATI fully mediated the pathway between CM and psychological aggression by the partner and self, as well as sexual coercion by the partner. Trauma symptoms are highlighted as a key factor in the relationship between CM history and interpersonal conflict in current adult relationships. These findings are important in developing college programming that targets vulnerable students with a maltreatment history for both mental health and relationship assistance, which will have implications for their overall college adaptation

The Voices of Male Survivors: The Lived Experiences of Adult Male Victims of Child Sexual Abuse

Prior to the 1980s, very little was understood about childhood male sexual abuse (CSA). Prevailing societal norms and values, secrecy inherent in the abuse and limited public awareness kept male victims of CSA in the dark to suffer alone. This study seeks to understand the experiences of adult male victims of childhood sexual abuse and its intersection with their masculinity. The study enlists the participation of 16 adult male victims of CSA and through a mixed methods design, utilizing the Trauma Symptoms Checklist (TSC-40) and a rigorous qualitative interview shines a light on their experiences and common themes experienced by this population

Is it All in Your Mind? Gastrointestinal Problems, Anxiety and Depression

Relationships between gastrointestinal (GI) problems, anxiety, and depression were investigated in two studies using non-clinical populations. Study 1 measures included the trait anxiety scale from the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Center for Epidemiology Studies Depression scale (CES-D), and the Trauma Symptom Checklist (TSC-40). Study 2 measures included the STAI, and the Profile of Mood States (POMS), portions of which were used to assess anxious mood state and depressed mood state. Trait anxiety predicted stomach cramps; anxious mood state predicted nausea and general GI problems; and depression predicted stomach problems. Findings suggest that psychological factors may be involved in physical symptoms

Garden of Truth: The Prostitution and Trafficking of Native Women in Minnesota

Explores mental health needs of Native women working as prostitutes; their experience of sexual or physical violence and homelessness; use of shelters, rape crisis centers, and substance abuse treatment; and role of culture. Makes policy recommendations

The effects of trait anxiety, potentially traumatic events, and psychological adjustment on attentional threat bias in college students

Attentional biases towards threatening information are considered a highly adaptive process(e.g., Boyer & Bergstrom, 2011). However, differential processing of threat as a result ofindividual differences can result in attentional mechanisms that are biased towards threateninginformation at a level that is considered maladaptive. Previous research has suggested that individuals with high levels of trait anxiety and individuals who exhibit trauma symptomatology as a result of a potentially traumatic event (PTE) exhibit this maladaptive level of attentional threat bias that may in turn result in the maintenance of anxious states and debilitating trauma symptomatology, respectively (Ehlers & Clark, 2000; Kimble et al., 2014). The present study aimed to further explore trait anxiety and trauma symptomatology as they relate to attentional threat bias by examining trait anxiety and trauma symptomatology as predictors of attentional threat bias. A non-clinical sample was given self-report measures to assess trait anxiety, PTEs, and trauma symptomatology, and completed an eye-tracking paradigm to assess attentional threat bias. Though no relationship between trait anxiety and attentional threat bias was found, results suggest a significant relationship between trauma symptomatology and attentional threat bias