Many people are exposed to community violence on a daily basis and therefore, it is important to understand what may increase risk for PTSD from community violence.
Each year, many people experience traumatic events. However, not everyone eventually goes on to develop PTSD. A number of factors have been identified that can increase the risk for developing PTSD following the experience of a traumatic event. Risk factors can essentially be divided up into four categories:
- Characteristics of the person, such a person’s sex, age, or racial/ethnic background.
- Psychological problems before the traumatic event, such as having depression or an anxiety disorder.
- Aspects of the traumatic event, such as the severity of the event or being injured during the event.
- How a person reacted to the traumatic event, such as dissociating during the traumatic event or developing symptoms of PTSD (also referred to as acute stress disorder) immediately after the event.
Although a number of different risk factors have been identified, less is known about which of these factors may be most likely to lead to the development of PTSD.
PTSD After Community Violence
One study examined different risk factors that may be linked to the development of PTSD following the experience of community violence, such as being shot, beat up, or stabbed, in a large group of mostly Latino men.
They found that many of the risk factors examined played a role in the development of PTSD symptoms approximately 1 year after people experienced some form of community violence. Specifically, they found the following risk factors influenced who had more severe PTSD symptoms 1 year later:
- Being older
- Being Latino
- Having a recent history of depression
- How severely they were injured at the time of the event
- Dissociating at the time of the event
- Blaming oneself for the event
- Experiencing PTSD symptoms 5-days after the event (that is, acute stress).
Of all of the above risk factors, the experience of acute stress was the strongest risk factor for having more severe PTSD symptoms 12 months after the experience of the trauma. In fact, it was as strong as all other risk factors combined.
What Do These Findings Mean
These findings suggest that some people may be more likely to develop PTSD after experiencing a traumatic event. They also show that if you are experiencing PTSD-like symptoms immediately after an event, you may be at significant risk for the later development of PTSD.
Therefore, early intervention can be very important, especially if you have one of the above risk factors. Seeking out help early on can help prevent the development of later problems. You can find a list of PTSD treatment providers in your area here.
In addition, after the experience of a traumatic event, it is important to put healthy coping skills, such as seeking out support, into action. Taking steps early may reduce the impact of that traumatic event, protecting you from the later development of PTSD.
Sources:
Brewin, C.R., Andrews, B., & Valentine, J.D. (2000). Meta-analysis of risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder in trauma-exposed adults. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68, 748-766.
Denson, T.F., Marshall, G.N., Schell, T.L., & Jaycox, L.H. (2007). Predictors of posttraumatic distress 1 year after exposure to community violence: The importance of acute symptom severity. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 75, 683-692.
Ozer, E.J., Best, S.R., Lipsey, T.L., & Weiss, D.S. (2003). Predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder and symptoms in adults: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 52-73.
