Testing the factor structure of the International Trauma Questionnaire in a sample of violence-exposed women living in Northern Ireland

Abstract

The International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) assesses posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the disturbances in self-organization (DSO) aspect of complex PTSD (CPTSD) per the ICD-11. This study examined the ITQ's factor structure among violence- or abuse-exposed women in Northern Ireland, a region with a history of conflict (i.e., “the Troubles”), to validate its use in this unique sociopolitical context. The sample consisted of the 542 women who participated in the Violence Against Women and Girls Survey in Northern Ireland. All participants completed the ITQ and reported lifetime experiences of various forms of violence and abuse. Construct validity was assessed by testing four models of ITQ's factor structure using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Regression analyses were performed on the factors from the two best-fitting CFA models to predict PTSD and DSO scores using age and types of violence as predictors. The two-factor second-order model and the correlated six-factor first-order model both showed good fit. Factor loadings indicated that all ITQ items adequately measured their intended constructs, λs = .697−.973. Regression analyses on both models revealed that physical violence, sexual violence, and digital abuse significantly predicted both PTSD and DSO scores, with stalking predictive of PTSD only, two-factor second-order model: βs = .118−.244, correlated model: βs = .101−.287. Findings suggest that the ITQ is a reliable and valid tool for assessing PTSD and DSO in women living in Northern Ireland. Associations with violence types showed partial differences and overlap, highlighting value in examining PTSD and CPTSD regarding specific trauma types.