Gender differences in early posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: a network analysis.
Line Rønning1, Rachel L Zelkowitz2,3, Marilyn L Piccirillo4,5
1Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
European Journal of Psychotraumatology
|January 23, 2025
Summary
This study found modest gender differences in early posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom networks, with re-experiencing symptoms uniquely linked to negative cognitions in men. Understanding these PTSD symptom associations can inform gender-sensitive interventions.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
- Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders
- Network Analysis in Mental Health
Background:
- Gender differences in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence are established, yet early post-trauma symptom network associations remain underexplored.
- Understanding these early associations is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
- Previous research has not adequately characterized gender-specific patterns in the initial stages following trauma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential gender differences in the associations among posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom clusters using network analysis.
- To examine the structure and stability of PTSD symptom networks in men and women during the early post-trauma period.
- To identify specific symptom connections that may differ between genders in the acute aftermath of trauma.
Main Methods:
- Network analysis was applied to data from 475 participants (57.5% women) who experienced recent interpersonal or motor vehicle trauma.
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were assessed using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and analyzed based on the dysphoric arousal model.
- Network structures, centrality indices (strength, predictability), and stability were evaluated, with comparisons made between male and female subsamples using the Network Comparison Test (NCT).
Main Results:
- Network structures showed adequate stability for both men and women, with avoidance symptoms being highly predictable in both groups.
- In men, anxious arousal and re-experiencing symptoms showed high strength and predictability, respectively. In women, re-experiencing symptoms exhibited both high strength and predictability.
- The Network Comparison Test revealed no significant differences in global network structure or strength, but post hoc analysis indicated a unique association between re-experiencing and negative alterations in cognitions/mood in men.
Conclusions:
- While overall PTSD symptom network structures were largely similar between genders, modest differences were observed, particularly in the early post-trauma period.
- The findings highlight a specific link between re-experiencing symptoms and negative cognitive alterations in men, suggesting potential gender-specific pathways.
- These insights into early PTSD symptom network dynamics can inform the development of gender-sensitive early intervention strategies to mitigate long-term PTSD risk.
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