SAFETYLIT WEEKLY UPDATE

We compile citations and summaries of about 400 new articles every week.
RSS Feed

HELP: Tutorials | FAQ
CONTACT US: Contact info

Search Results

Journal Article

Citation

Lathan EC, Powers A, Kottakis A, Guelfo A, Siegle GJ, Turner JA, Turner MD, Yakkanti V, Jain J, Mekawi Y, Teer AP, Currier JM, Fani N. Psychol. Med. 2023; 53(11): 5136-5145.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Cambridge University Press)

DOI

10.1017/S003329172200215X

PMID

37650341

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Moral injury exposure (MIE) and distress (MID) may indirectly affect the relationship between trauma exposure and alterations in autonomic regulation [assessed via high-frequency heart rate variability (hfHRV)] in civilians, but this has not been tested in prior research. We conducted two exploratory studies to examine trauma types' associations with MIE and MID among civilian medical patients (Study 1) and explore how these facets may indirectly affect the relationship between trauma type and hfHRV among civilians seeking mental health services (Study 2).

METHODS: Participants recruited from a public hospital and/or community advertisements (Study 1, n = 72, 87.5% Black, 83.3% women; Study 2, n = 46, 71.7% Black, 97.8% women) completed measures assessing trauma type, MIE, and MID. In Study 1, trauma types that emerged as significant correlates of MIE and MID were entered into separate linear regression analyses. Trauma types identified were included as predictors in indirect effects models with MIE or MID as the mediator and resting hfHRV (assayed via electrocardiography) as the outcome.

RESULTS: Childhood sexual abuse emerged as the only significant predictor of MIE, b = 0.38, p < 0.001; childhood sexual abuse, b = 0.26, p < 0.05, and adulthood sexual assault, b = 0.23, p < 0.05 were significant predictors of MID. Participants with greater MIE and MID demonstrated lower hfHRV. Adulthood sexual assault showed an indirect effect on hfHRV through MID, B = -0.10, s.e. = 0.06, 95%CI (-0.232 to -0.005).

CONCLUSIONS: Moral injury was uniquely associated with sexual violence and lower hfHRV in civilians. Data highlight moral injury as a pathway through which autonomic dysregulation may emerge and its salience for trauma treatment selection.


Language: en

Keywords

Child; Humans; Female; Male; moral injury; sexual violence; *Mental Health Services; heart rate variability; *Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Autonomic Nervous System; Civilians; Electrocardiography; Heart Rate; trauma exposure

NEW SEARCH


All SafetyLit records are available for automatic download to Zotero & Mendeley
Print