Epidemiology of trauma: Frequency and impact of different potentially traumatic events on different demographic groups.

TLDR

The study examined the frequency and impact of 10 potentially traumatic events in 1,000 adults drawn from four southeastern cities, with equal representation of Black and White, male and female, and younger, middle‑aged, and older adults. Lifetime exposure to at least one event was reported by 69% of participants and 21% in the past year, with tragic death occurring most often, sexual assault yielding the highest PTSD rate, motor‑vehicle crashes presenting the greatest combined frequency and impact, and notable demographic differences: Whites and men had higher lifetime exposure, younger adults higher past‑year exposure, Black men were most vulnerable to perceived stress, and young people had the highest PTSD rates.

Abstract

The frequency and impact of 10 potentially traumatic events were examined in a sample of 1,000 adults. Drawn from four southeastern cities, the sample was half Black, half White, half male, half female, and evenly divided among younger, middle-aged, and older adults. Over their lifetimes, 69% of the sample experienced at least one of the events, as did 21% in the past year alone. The 10 events varied in importance, with tragic death occurring most often, sexual assault yielding the highest rate of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and motor vehicle crash presenting the most adverse combination of frequency and impact. Numerous differences were observed in the epidemiology of these events across demographic groups. Lifetime exposure was higher among Whites and men than among Blacks and women; past-year exposure was highest among younger adults. When impact was analyzed as a continuous variable (perceived stress), Black men appeared to be most vulnerable to the effects of events, but young people showed the highest rates of PTSD.