title: The role of psychological symptoms and social group memberships in the development of post-traumatic stress after traumatic injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The costs associated with traumatic injury are often exacerbated by the development of post-traumatic stress symptoms. However, it is unclear what decreases the development of post-traumatic symptoms over time. The aim of the present research was to examine the role of psychological symptoms and social group memberships in reducing the development of post-traumatic stress symptoms after orthopaedic injuries (OIs) and acquired brain injuries (ABIs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal prospective study assessed self-reported general health symptoms, social group memberships, and post-traumatic stress symptoms among participants with mild or moderate ABI (n= 62) or upper limb OI (n= 31) at 2 weeks (T1) and 3 months (T2) after injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hierarchical regressions revealed that having fewer T1 general health symptoms predicted lower levels of T2 post-traumatic stress symptoms after OI but forming more new group memberships at T1 predicted lower levels of T2 post-traumatic stress symptoms after ABI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A focus on acquiring group memberships may be particularly important in reducing the development of post-traumatic stress symptoms after injuries, such as ABI, which result in long-term life changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Canada. janellej@sfu.ca
authors.forename: Janelle M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: W Huw
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Jolanda
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jetten
authors.forename: S Alexander
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Haslam
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Ilka H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Gleibs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010379:Peer Group; D012919:Social Behavior; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*