Date of Award

5-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College/School

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department/Program

Psychology

Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair

Samantha Coyle-Eastwick

Committee Member

Sarah Lowe

Committee Member

Shannon O'Connor

Committee Member

John Paul Wilson

Abstract

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been interest in understanding how individuals have fared regarding their mental health symptoms, such as symptoms of PTSD. Prior studies have established a link between COVID-19 and PTSD without considering how COVID-19 may relate to the four PTSD symptom clusters. Further, those who feel betrayed by either an individual or institution tend to have more severe PTSD (Martin et al., 2013). It is possible that individuals felt a level of both interpersonal and institutional betrayal towards other individuals or institutions for exposing them to environments in which there was a risk of developing COVID-19. This study sought to investigate the relationship between stressful circumstances surrounding COVID-19 and PTSD, and whether institutional and interpersonal betrayal moderated this relationship. Results indicated that institutional and interpersonal betrayal predicted PTSD as well as specific PTSD symptoms and depression. Further, institutional betrayal moderated the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and avoidance symptoms, negative alterations in cognition or mood, and overall PTSD symptoms. Interpersonal betrayal moderated the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and intrusion symptoms, avoidance symptoms, negative alterations in cognition or mood, and overall PTSD symptoms. Together, these results can help inform both treatment and institutional responses to pandemic mental health struggles, specifically PTSD.

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