Researchers at the National Institute for Human Resilience (NIHR) have recently published papers that are available for public access. Below, you can find summaries and links to the full text articles. Dr. Chip Benight, Dr. Kristi Samuelson, former and current students, and colleagues are involved in these publications. We are excited to share these interesting findings with you!

Non-linear Dynamic Shifts in Distress After Wildfires: Further Tests of the Self-Regulation Shift Theory

In this paper, Benight et al (2020) study the psychological impact of wildfires, by conducting two studies which they test the self-regulation shift theory using cusp catastrophe analyses. 

The first study was part of a larger trial on a web intervention for disaster recovery, following the Waldo Canyon Fire in 2012. This study tested a cusp catastrophe model on distress after the fire, and found that coping self-efficacy early after the wildfire was a significant bifurcation factor affecting when a shift in distress levels occurred from a low state to an upper state. Perceived loss was a significant controlling factor affecting the strength of each state. 
The second study looked at survivors directly affected by a series of California wildfires between 2017 and 2018, using cusp catastrophe model on distress after the fires. Results again showed self-efficacy as a significant bifurcation factor. However, in this study, peritraumatic dissociation was found to be an asymmetry controlling factor. 

Overall, the findings suggest that coping self-efficacy is a pivotal variable consistent with self-regulation shift theory predictions. 
When asked about what implications this paper has for future research, Dr. Benight says, “If people do go through these shifting patterns, what do these patterns of nonlinear shifting of states tell us? We don’t know. We should be looking there to see what these patterns are across time.”
He also goes on to say, “Coping efficacy appears to be an important variable in their self-regulation process, which has implications in terms of how we can interrupt this negative self-determination experience. Maybe using apps to get to a point where it can warn them that they are struggling, and how we can help them, would help. I think it’s important to find ways that we can figure out that process.”

Link: Click here

Citation: Benight CC, Shoji K, Harwell A and Felix E (2020) Non-linear Dynamic Shifts in Distress After Wildfires: Further Tests of the Self-Regulation Shift Theory. Front. Psychol. 11:551962. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.551962
 

Predicting Change in Posttraumatic Distress Through Change in Coping Self-Efficacy After Using the My Trauma Recovery eHealth Intervention: Laboratory Investigation

In this paper, Benight et al (2018) evaluated eHealth intervention for trauma survivors called My Trauma Recovery. The aim of My Trauma Recovery is to support trauma survivors and enhance trauma coping self-efficacy (CSE). In the study, 92 individuals exposed to trauma completed a baseline online survey assessing posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and CSE. 

Results show that participants who worked through My Trauma Recovery report clinically lower PTSS symptoms after three weeks. It was also demonstrated that CSE is an important self-appraisal factor that increased during sessions one and three, which are correlated with a reduction in PTSS. 
Overall, changes in CSE may be important for reductions in PTSS when working on a self-help trauma recovery website. 

When Dr. Benight was asked what implications this study has for future research, he says, “The next type of research we need to do is really looking at how engagement works. Whether it’s an app or web system, I think we could also do an augmented reality. It really begs the question around how do we boost people’s efficacy perceptions when they’re engaging in different types of interventions, so I think that’s the take home message.” 

Link: Click here.

Citation: Benight, CC., Shoji, K., Yeager, CM., Weisman, P., Boult ,TE.( 2020).
Predicting Change in Posttraumatic Distress Through Change in Coping Self-Efficacy After Using the My Trauma Recovery eHealth Intervention: Laboratory Investigation. (2018). JMIR Ment Health, 5(4).
 

Predeployment Neurocognitive Functioning Predicts Postdeployment Posttraumatic Stress in Army Personnel

In this paper, Samuelson et al. (2020) examine whether patterns of resilience and distress among soldiers can be predicted by executive functioning assessed prior to deployment. The goal of this study was to build predictive models using biological and behavioral markers, to identify individuals at risk for military PTSD following deployment. They sampled 403 soldiers who completed self-report questionnaires and neuropsychological tests at three-time points: prior to deployment, within 2 weeks of returning from deployment, and some weeks later.

The results showed that pre-deployment sustained attention and inhibitory control performance were significantly associated with post-deployment PTSD symptoms. Overall, the results have important clinical implications for understanding PTSD, and building preventative programs for soldiers. 

Link: Click here.

Citation: Samuelson, K. W., Newman, J., Abu Amara, D., Qian, M., Li, M., Schultebraucks, K., Purchia, E., Genfi, A., Laska, E., Siegel, C., Hammamieh, R., Gautam, A., Jett, M., & Marmar, C. R. (2020). Predeployment neurocognitive functioning predicts postdeployment posttraumatic stress in Army personnel. Neuropsychology, 34(3), 276–287.

Predictors of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, and Depression Symptoms in Survivors of Torture Living in the United States

This paper was first authored by a former student of Dr Samuelson’s (Dr. Ann Tran) and co-authored by current student Sophie Brickman and senior authored by Dr. Samuelson. In a sample of 101 refugees who are survivors of torture, the authors examined the roles of pre-trauma, peri-trauma, and postmigration factors as predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. Predictors included demographic variables, variables related to the torture itself, and postmigration variables, including forced separation and legal status.

The most important finding was that undocumented legal status was highly predictive of poorer psychological outcomes. Results highlight the importance of considering post-migration factors, specifically legal status, rather than elements of the torture experience itself, in the delivery of trauma-informed psychological interventions and policy development for survivors of torture.

Link: Click here.

Citation: Tran, A., Brickman, S.*, Jordan, J., & Samuelson, K. (2020). Predictors of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, and Depression Symptoms in Survivors of Torture Living in the United States.  Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease.