Citation

Jones JM, Williams WH, Jetten J, Haslam SA, Harris A, Gleibs IH. Br. J. Health Psychol. 2012; 17(4): 798-811.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Canada School of Psychology, University of Exeter, UK School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Australia Department of Emergency Medicine, Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, UK School of Psychology, University of Surrey, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, British Psychological Society)

DOI

10.1111/j.2044-8287.2012.02074.x

PMID

22524293

Abstract

Objectives. The costs associated with traumatic injury are often exacerbated by the development of post-traumatic stress symptoms. However, it is unclear what decreases the development of post-traumatic symptoms over time. The aim of the present research was to examine the role of psychological symptoms and social group memberships in reducing the development of post-traumatic stress symptoms after orthopaedic injuries (OIs) and acquired brain injuries (ABIs). Design and Methods. A longitudinal prospective study assessed self-reported general health symptoms, social group memberships, and post-traumatic stress symptoms among participants with mild or moderate ABI (n= 62) or upper limb OI (n= 31) at 2 weeks (T1) and 3 months (T2) after injury. Results. Hierarchical regressions revealed that having fewer T1 general health symptoms predicted lower levels of T2 post-traumatic stress symptoms after OI but forming more new group memberships at T1 predicted lower levels of T2 post-traumatic stress symptoms after ABI. Conclusion. A focus on acquiring group memberships may be particularly important in reducing the development of post-traumatic stress symptoms after injuries, such as ABI, which result in long-term life changes.

Language: en