Lesbian, gay or bisexual identity as a risk factor for trauma and mental health problems in Northern Irish students and the protective role of social support

Background: People identifying as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) have been shown to experience more trauma and poorer mental health than their heterosexual counterparts, particularly in countries with discriminatory laws and policies. Northern Ireland is a post-conflict region with high rates of trauma and mental health problems, as well as significant levels of prejudice against the LGB community. To date, no studies in Northern Ireland have compared trauma exposure, social support and mental health status of LGB students to their heterosexual peers. Objective: The present study aimed to assess whether LGB status was associated with more trauma exposure and poorer mental health, and whether social support mediated these associations. Method: The sample was comprised of 1,116 university students. Eighty-nine percent (n = 993) identified as heterosexual and 11% (n = 123) identified as LGB. Path analysis was used to test the hypotheses. Results: LGB status was significantly associated with increased trauma exposure and with symptoms of PTSD, depression and anxiety, but not with problematic alcohol use. These associations were mediated by social support from family only. Conclusions: These results evidence vulnerabilities among Northern Irish students identifying as LGB in relation to trauma and mental health compared with their heterosexual peers. However, social support from family has the potential to mitigate risk. Educational initiatives should raise awareness of the importance of familial support for LGB youth, and those young people who lack family support should be considered an at-risk group, warranting particularly intensive targeting by relevant supports

Revealing what is distinct by recognising what is common: distinguishing between complex PTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder symptoms using bifactor modelling

Background: Despite concerns of conceptual similarity, increasing evidence supports the discriminant validity of Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). However, all studies to date have assumed a categorical model of psychopathology. In contrast, dimensional models of psychopathology, such as the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology model (i.e. HiTOP model), recognise shared vulnerability across supposedly discrete disorders. Accounting for shared vulnerability between CPTSD and BPD symptoms may help to better reveal what is unique about these constructs. Objective: To identify the distinct and shared features of CPTSD and BPD via the application of dimensional modelling procedures. Method: Confirmatory bifactor and confirmatory factor analysis were employed to identify the optimal latent structure of CPTSD and BPD symptoms amongst a convenience sample of Israeli adults (N = 617). Additionally, structural equation modelling was used to identify risk factors associated with these constructs. Results: The latent structure of CPTSD and BPD symptoms was best explained by a bifactor model including one ‘general’ factor (i.e. vulnerability to all symptoms) and three ‘specific’ correlated factors (i.e. vulnerability to PTSD, DSO, and BPD symptoms, respectively). CPTSD symptoms were more readily distinguished from the general factor whereas BPD symptoms were not as easily distinguished from the general factor. CPTSD symptoms reflecting a negative self-concept and BPD symptoms reflecting an alternating self-concept were the most distinctive features of CPTSD and BPD relative to the general factor, respectively. Most of the risk factors were associated with the general vulnerability factor, consistent with the predictions of dimensional models of psychopathology regarding shared risk across supposedly distinct psychiatric constructs. Conclusion: Consistent with a dimensional model of psychopathology, CPTSD and BPD shared a common latent structure but were still distinguishable. CPTSD and BPD symptoms may be most effectively distinguished based on the phenomenology of self-concept symptoms

Exploring the experience of posttraumatic growth following imprisonment: a mixed methods systematic review

This systematic review is the first to synthesize and critically evaluate the literature on the experience of posttraumatic growth (PTG) following imprisonment. It was conducted and reported in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for mixed methods systematic reviews and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement. Five electronic databases were searched and the JBI meta-aggregate approach to data synthesis was employed. Four synthesized findings were developed from the 10 included studies: PTG following imprisonment is experienced as improved (1) self-perception, (2) relationships, (3) outlook on life, and (4) Facilitators of prison related PTG. Clinical implications call for increased engagement in the factors shown to facilitate PTG in custody.<br/