Samantha C Holmes1,2, Anna E Austin3, Megan V Smith4,5,6. 1. Department of Psychology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, 2800 Victory Blvd Staten Island, New York, NY, 10314, USA. samantha.holmes@csi.cuny.edu. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. samantha.holmes@csi.cuny.edu. 3. Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. 4. Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. 5. CT Hospital Association, Wallingford, CT, USA. 6. Yale School of Medicine, Child Study Center, New Haven, CT, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: There is a well-established association between poverty and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, little research has tested the temporality of the association. METHODS: Using data from Waves IV (2008; N = 14,800) and V (2016-2018; N = 10,685) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we examined temporal associations between material hardship (a specific operationalization of poverty) and PTSD, as well as assessed for potential gender differences in associations. We conducted logistic regression and generalized structural equation modeling to examine associations between material hardship and PTSD and assess for mediation and moderation by gender. RESULTS: Prior PTSD diagnoses were associated with an increased likelihood of material hardship (OR = 1.64; 95% CI 1.21, 2.21). The indirect effect of gender on material hardship through PTSD diagnoses was significant. Prior material hardship was associated with an increased likelihood of PTSD diagnoses (OR = 1.81; 95% CI 1.35, 2.42). The indirect effect of gender on PTSD diagnoses through material hardship was significant. There was no evidence of moderation by gender for either association. CONCLUSION: Results suggest reciprocal associations between material hardship and PTSD. Economic policies, as well as improved access to evidence-based PTSD treatments, may reduce the burden of both material hardships and PTSD.
PURPOSE: There is a well-established association between poverty and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, little research has tested the temporality of the association. METHODS: Using data from Waves IV (2008; N = 14,800) and V (2016-2018; N = 10,685) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we examined temporal associations between material hardship (a specific operationalization of poverty) and PTSD, as well as assessed for potential gender differences in associations. We conducted logistic regression and generalized structural equation modeling to examine associations between material hardship and PTSD and assess for mediation and moderation by gender. RESULTS: Prior PTSD diagnoses were associated with an increased likelihood of material hardship (OR = 1.64; 95% CI 1.21, 2.21). The indirect effect of gender on material hardship through PTSD diagnoses was significant. Prior material hardship was associated with an increased likelihood of PTSD diagnoses (OR = 1.81; 95% CI 1.35, 2.42). The indirect effect of gender on PTSD diagnoses through material hardship was significant. There was no evidence of moderation by gender for either association. CONCLUSION: Results suggest reciprocal associations between material hardship and PTSD. Economic policies, as well as improved access to evidence-based PTSD treatments, may reduce the burden of both material hardships and PTSD.
Authors: Carol E Golin; Danielle F Haley; Jing Wang; James P Hughes; Irene Kuo; Jessica Justman; Adaora A Adimora; Lydia Soto-Torres; Ann O'Leary; Sally Hodder Journal: J Health Care Poor Underserved Date: 2016