The Relationship Between Positive Psychological Variables And Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder In Shidu Parents

Objective: This study aimed to describe the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)among shidu parents,explore the associated factors of PTSD according to the sociodemographic characteristics of shidu parents and characteristics of their lost child,further explore the effects of positive psychological variables(optimism,hope,resilience)on PTSD among shidu parents,and finally examine whether perceived stress mediates the effects of positive psychological variables on PTSD.Based on the results,establishing a theoretical model to provide scientific basis for reducing PTSD symptoms of shidu parents and conducting psychological intervention.Methods: A multi-stage sampling method was used in our study.Participants were recruited from five urban districts of Shenyang.In each district,we randomly selected15 communities and invited all shidu families in each community.In each family,one parent was selected by chance.Self-reported questionnaires were distributed to participants.The questionnaires included sociodemographic questions,the PTSD Checklist from the DSM-5(PCL-5),Revised Life Orientation Test(LOT-R),Herth Hope Index(HHI),the 14-item Resilience Scale(RS-14),Perceived Stress Scale-10(PSS-10).Difference of PTSD in categorical demographic characteristics and categorical characteristics of the lost children were tested by T-tests or one-way ANOVAs.Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis was performed to explore the effects of associated factors on PTSD and to explore the mediating effect of perceived stress in the relationship between positive psychological variables and PTSD.Bootstrap method was used to testify the mediating effect of perceived stress.Result: 1.The prevalence of PTSD among shidu parents is 24.75%.mothers were more likely to develop PTSD symptoms than fathers(27.99% vs 20.00%,p < 0.05).2.Annual household income was an important influencing factor of PTSD among shidu parents.Shidu parents with lower annual household income got higher PTSD scores(p <0.05).3.The gender of lost child and the time since the child’ death were the influencing factors of shidu mothers.Mothers who lost a daughter or whose child has died no more than 5 years were more likely to develop PTSD symptoms(p < 0.05).4.Optimism and hope were negatively associated with PTSD among shidu parents,while perceived stress was positively associated with PTSD among shidu parents.5.Perceived stress partially mediated the relationship between hope and PTSD symptoms in shidu parents.6.Perceived stress partially mediated the relationship between optimism and PTSD symptoms in shidu mothers.Conclusion: The prevalence of PTSD among shidu parents is 24.75%.The prevalence of PTSD in shidu mothers was higher than that in shidu fathers.Annual household income as one of the sociodemographic characteristic has significantly effect on PTSD of shidu parents.Losing girls and dying no more than 5 years are risk factors for PTSD of shidu mothers.PTSD symptoms of shidu mothers alleviated with the time elapsing.Positive psychological variables not only directly affect PTSD symptoms of shidu parents,but also indirectly affect their PTSD symptoms by affecting the perceived stress of them.The interventions of Positive psychological variables and perceived stress should be included in PTSD prevention for shidu parents.