Mindfulness and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Severity in Urban African-American High School Students

Jacob C S Schmitz; Jason M Prenoveau; Alison A Papadakis; Adanna J Johnson; Jeffery M Lating; Tamar Mendelson; Jacinda K Dariotis

doi:10.1007/s11126-020-09774-x

Mindfulness and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Severity in Urban African-American High School Students

Psychiatr Q. 2021 Mar;92(1):85-99. doi: 10.1007/s11126-020-09774-x.

Authors

Jacob C S Schmitz¹, Jason M Prenoveau², Alison A Papadakis³, Adanna J Johnson⁴, Jeffery M Lating², Tamar Mendelson⁵, Jacinda K Dariotis⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1308 Sherwood Avenue, Box 980489, Richmond, VA, 23220, USA. Jacob.Schmitz@vcuhealth.org.
² Department of Psychology, Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA.
³ Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁴ Office of the Provost, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
⁵ Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁶ College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, Evaluation Services Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

PMID: 32458341
DOI: 10.1007/s11126-020-09774-x

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the current study was to examine the relations among mindfulness, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity, and stressful life events (SLEs) in African-American urban adolescents. Another aim was to examine mindfulness as a moderator of the relation between SLEs and PTSD symptom severity in this population.

Method: Eighty-eight African-American high school students from a low-income urban community completed measures of demographics, PTSD symptom severity, SLEs, and mindfulness.

Results: Mindfulness was significantly negatively related to PTSD symptom severity, r(86) = -.70, p < .001, 95% CI [-.58, -79], and SLEs were significantly positively related to PTSD symptom severity, r(86) = .29, p = .003, 95% CI [.09, .47]. Mindfulness was an independent predictor of PTSD symptom severity after accounting for SLEs, B = -1.16, t(84) = -9.06, p < .001, 95% CI [-1.41, -0.90], and SLEs were an independent predictor of PTSD symptom severity after accounting for mindfulness, B = 0.49, t(84) = 2.92, p = .004, 95% CI [0.16, 0.82]. Mindfulness did not moderate the relation between SLEs and PTSD symptom severity, B = -.003, t(84) = -0.15, p = .89, 95% CI [-.04, .03].

Implications: This study has implications for both mindfulness as a potential protective factor against PTSD symptom severity and SLEs as a potential risk factor for increased PTSD symptom severity in African-American urban adolescents.

Keywords: Adolescents; African-American; Mindfulness; PSTD; Stress; Stressful life events.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Black or African American / psychology*
Female
Humans
Male
Mindfulness*
Schools*
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology*
Students / psychology*
Urban Population*
Young Adult