Cognitive appraisal as a mediator of the relations between war experiences and PTSD in the formerly abducted youth in Northern Uganda: Findings from the WAYS study.

Abstract

Objective: Exploring risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in war-affected populations is critical for the refinement and adaptation of therapies for this condition. However, few studies have examined this link, particularly the roles that cognitive appraisal processes play.

Method: We explored the degree to which various types of cognitive appraisal mediate the connections between prior war experiences and PTSD symptoms in formerly abducted youths. A sample of 476 (M_age = 23.83; ± 9.58; range = 19-27 years) formerly abducted youths in Northern Uganda were included in the study. The postwar screening survey, the revised Impact of Events Scale, and the Trauma Appraisal Questionnaire were used to obtain information on war experiences, PTSD symptoms, and trauma appraisal, respectively.

Results: War experiences significantly predicted PTSD symptoms (β = 0.47, 95% CI [0.37, 0.57]). The coefficients for the link between war experiences and PTSD symptoms decreased by between 44.7% (95% CI [29.7%, 59.7%]) and 57.4% (95% CI [33.4%, 71.4%]) for all trauma appraisal subscales, indicating partial mediation. The associations between war experiences and PTSD symptoms were attenuated but remained significant.

Conclusion: Each trauma appraisal subscale partially mediated the association between war experiences and PTSD symptoms. The level of mediation by the various subscales of trauma appraisal was moderately large, suggesting that interventions targeted at changing maladaptive trauma cognitions may reduce the influence of war experiences on PTSD symptoms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).