title: Association between posttraumatic stress and acceptance of social changes: Findings from a general population study and proposal of a new concept.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a growing understanding of the importance of the social factors of posttraumatic stress disorder.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study expands research on association between posttraumatic stress and social factors by introducing the measure of the acceptance of social changes and evaluating possible links between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and acceptance of social changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A general population sample ( n = 778) aged from 18 to 89 years ( M = 40.2) from Lithuania participated in our study, of whom 68% reported exposure to traumatic events. Posttraumatic stress reactions were measured with the Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R), and acceptance of social changes was measured with the Acceptance of Social Changes Instrument (SOCHI) developed by the authors of this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 8% of the participants had a potential posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis. Acceptance of social changes was negatively associated with posttraumatic stress. PTSD was related to lower acceptance of social changes ( d = .61). Structural equation model (SEM) revealed the mediating role of PTSD for acceptance of social changes following trauma exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings of our study indicate that the acceptance of social changes might be an important psychosocial factor of PTSD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Organizational Psychology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Evaldas
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kazlauskas
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Organizational Psychology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zelviene
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012922:Social Change; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Trauma; posttraumatic stress disorder; social changes; social factors