Racial/Ethnic Differences in Trauma History, Resilience, and Personality Disorder Features

Ling-Yi Sung, Pace University

Abstract

This study examined racial/ethnic differences in and associations among trauma history, psychological resilience and personality disorder features. More specifically, I explored the link between trauma exposure and personality disorder features as well as the possible moderating role of psychological resilience on the link between trauma and personality disorder features. Archival data from the intake records of over one thousand discharged clients from an urban-based university mental health clinic serving both university students and individuals from the community were analyzed for the study. Intake records assessed for this study included the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS), the Resilience Scale (RS) and sociodemographic information. Findings indicated an overall difference in history of trauma exposure between racial/ethnic groups. There were also significant positive correlations between trauma exposure and each of the four (Antisocial, Borderline, Paranoid, Schizotypal) personality disorder features. There were no significant differences in resilience scores between racial/ethnic groups, but significant racial/ethnic differences were found in personality disorder features. Further, psychological resilience moderated the relationship between trauma exposure and Antisocial personality disorder features. Limitations of the present study and suggestions for future research as well as implications and contributions to the field of school-clinical psychology are discussed

Subject Area

Clinical psychology|Ethnic studies|Personality psychology

Recommended Citation

Sung, Ling-Yi, "Racial/Ethnic Differences in Trauma History, Resilience, and Personality Disorder Features" (2019). ETD Collection for Pace University. AAI27771580.
https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/dissertations/AAI27771580

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