Posttraumatic stress and COVID-19-related stressors: a prospective observational study

The COVID-19 pandemic may trigger posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) due to its threat to health, well-being, and survival.

We sought to assess levels of change in PTSS at three waves during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our second objective was to examine the role of four objective and subjective predictors salient to COVID-19-loss of resources, sense of loneliness, perceived COVID-19 threat, and uncertainty stress-on the trajectory of PTSS.

The study consisted of three waves, a month apart, between June and August 2020, with 903, 718, and 684 participants in each wave, respectively.

At T0, participants had a medium level of PTSS (M = 2.07, SD = 0.89), which increased at T1 (M = 2.46, SD = 0.97) and decreased at T2 (M = 2.24, SD = 0.93). Linear mixed-effects modeling showed that loss of resources, sense of loneliness, perceived COVID-19 threat, and uncertainty stress were significant predictors of PTSS over the three time-points. Significant interactions between these predictors (except sense of loneliness) and time were found: At higher levels of resource loss, uncertainty stress, and COVID-19 threat, there was a steeper increase in PTSS from baseline to 1 month.

The four predictors of PTSS should be addressed via strengthening resilience of individuals and communities.