Date of Conferral

9-15-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Leilani Gjellstad

Abstract

Many millions of people are suffering from symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Just in the United States, 13 million Americans had a PTSD diagnosis as of 2020. Through the theoretical lens of catharsis, analysis of variance was used to examine whether traumatic incident reduction (TIR) is associated with changes in posttraumatic symptoms and posttraumatic growth by comparing pre, mid, and post-TIR PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) scores. Regression was also used to test whether post-PCL-5 scores accounted for variance in the post-PTGI scores. Ninety-seven TIR cases from the mental health agency between 2017 and 2024 provided at least two assessment points that were included in this time series design. Repeated measures ANOVA of posttraumatic symptoms across the three timepoints indicates a medium effect size for TIR across time (F(2, 29) = 33.62, p < .001, η²ₚ = .537) with timepoints 1, 2, and 3 all differing significantly from one another (getting progressively lower). Posttraumatic growth showed a small but significant effect (F(2, 29) = 6.811, p = .011, η²ₚ = .143) with timepoint 3 being significantly higher than timepoint 2. Post-TIR posttraumatic symptoms did not significantly account for variance in post-TIR posttraumatic growth. Implications for positive social change include a higher quality of life for individuals within society. This is accomplished through a TIR product which includes, but is not limited to, lessened stress symptoms and higher posttraumatic growth.

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