Beyond Direct Trauma: Epidemiology of Exposure Modalities, Event Types, and PTSD in a National Polish Sample
Beyond Direct Trauma: Epidemiology of Exposure Modalities, Event Types, and PTSD in a National Polish Sample
StatusVoR
Alternative title
Authors
Leśnierowska, Magdalena
Cieślak, Roman
Monograph
Monograph (alternative title)
Date
2026-08-05
Publisher
Journal title
Polish Psychological Bulletin
Issue
Volume
57
Pages
Pages
163-178
ISSN
1641-7844
ISSN of series
Access date
2026-08-05
Abstract PL
Abstract EN
The epidemiological literature on trauma has largely centered on direct exposure, leaving other exposure pathways underexamined. We broaden this perspective by (1) mapping population-wide trauma exposure across four modalities—direct personal exposure, witnessing, indirect exposure via a close other, and work-related indirect exposure—and (2) estimating event-specific conditional risk of PTSD within each trauma exposure modality, with particular attention to indirect and multimodal exposures. Data came from a national sample of Polish adults (N = 808) collected in 2017. Trauma exposure was assessed with the Multidimensional Trauma Exposure Scale (MTES) and PTSD with the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Trauma exposure was nearly universal (95.1%). Modality-specific exposure rates were 89.5% (direct), 78.9% (witnessed), 63.7% (via close other), and 29.4% (occupational), with significant gender-specific patterns. PTSD prevalence was 23.8%, higher in women than men (26.7% vs. 15.1%; OR = 2.09, 95% CI [1.47, 2.97]). Notably, all PTSD cases reported multimodal exposure. Event-specific patterns within modalities were associated with elevated PTSD risk. These findings show the trauma landscape extends far beyond direct events: indirect and multimodal exposures are common and consequential, suggesting PTSD often reflects the cumulative burden of overlapping exposures. Representing the pre-COVID-19 landscape, the findings constitute a critical baseline for evaluating the subsequent surge in mental health challenges. Consequently, public health surveillance should systematically incorporate these broader exposure pathways to monitor epidemiological trends while requiring rigorous operationalization to avoid diagnostic inflation.
Abstract other
Keywords PL
Keywords EN
Posttraumatic stress
PTSD
Trauma Exposure
Exposure Modalities
Indirect Trauma
Epidemiology
PTSD
Trauma Exposure
Exposure Modalities
Indirect Trauma
Epidemiology
Keywords other
Sustainable Development Goals
Exhibition title
Place of exhibition (institution)
Exhibition curator
Type
License type
Funder
Time range from
Time range to
Contact person name
Related publication
Related publication
Grant/project name
Pośrednia ekspozycja na zdarzenia traumatyczne a symptomy stresu pourazowego.
Grant number
2016/21/N/HS6/02837
Collections
Views
0Acquisition Date20.10.2022
Downloads
0Acquisition Date20.10.2022
Altmetrics©
Dimensions
Google Scholar
