PTSD's factor structure and measurement invariance across subgroups with differing count of trauma types

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Comparing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity between individuals with single versus multiple traumatic event (TE) types is common.
• Study validity hinges on measurement invariance of PTSD constructs across different TE counts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the measurement invariance of PTSD symptom cluster constructs, assessed by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), across subgroups with one versus multiple TE types.
• To validate the PCL-5 Hybrid Model for comparing PTSD severity across different trauma exposure levels.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 556 university students who reported at least one TE.
• Assessed PTSD symptoms using the PCL-5 and TE exposure with the Stressful Life Events Screening Questionnaire.
• Employed structural equation modeling to test the PCL-5 Hybrid Model and assess measurement invariance (metric and scalar) across subgroups.

Main Results:

• The PCL-5 Hybrid Model demonstrated a superior fit compared to alternative models.
• Metric and scalar invariance were confirmed for the PCL-5 Hybrid Model factors across individuals with one versus multiple TE types.
• This supports the stability and applicability of the PCL-5 Hybrid Model for comparative analysis.

Conclusions:

• The PCL-5 Hybrid Model's factor structure is stable and applicable across individuals experiencing single or multiple trauma types.
• Findings support the meaningful comparison of PTSD symptom severity scores derived from the PCL-5 Hybrid Model, regardless of the number of TEs.
• This validates the use of the PCL-5 for research on PTSD in diverse trauma populations.