The Development-Based Taxonomy of Stressors and Traumas: An Initial Empirical Validation

Abstract

The development-based trauma framework (DBTF) proposed a comprehensive taxonomy of stressors and traumas based on the salience of existence and identity development. The goal of this research is to check the validity of some of the DBTF parameters, specifically the trauma types severity (Types I, II, and III), and the six major trauma types (attachment, personal identity, collective identity, role identity, survival and secondary traumas) differential impact and proliferation. We used a sample from 11 Arab countries (N = 2732), age ranged from 18 -91, mean = 26.9, and SD = 10.01, with 69.3% females. We used measures for cumulative stressors and traumas, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and executive functions. We conducted correlation and path analysis. Correlation explored the differential sizes of association between types I, II, III traumas and mental health and executive function deficits. Path analysis explored the proliferation of and paths between the six major types of trauma and their impact on mental health and cognitive functions. Results indicated that the size of associations of type III trauma and mental health and executive function variable were significantly larger than type II trauma and the same for the difference in the associations between type II and type I, which validate the differential intensity impact of trauma types. Results indicated that attachment traumas have the highest impact on other traumas, followed by early childhood adversities (personal identity trauma) and collective identity traumas, with differential impact on mental health and executive functions. The conceptual, trauma measurement and clinical implications of results were discussed.

The Effects of Type III Traumatic Stressors of the Protracted Conflict and Prolonged COVID-19 on Syrians Internally Displaced

“…The findings provided compelling evidence that the frequency with which traumatic events related to Type I, II, and III traumas tend to be related to mental health and cognitive functions to varying degrees, with the frequency of events experienced that relate to Type III traumas (the CTS), having the strongest associations, especially its subtype III-a (intersected discrimination and oppression). This is in line with previous findings (Kira, 2021; Kira, Al-Noor et al, 2022; Kira, Aljakoub et al, 2022; Kira, Rice et al, 2022). This study especially validated Type III trauma’s five subtypes with the frequency of events associated with the Type III-a subtype (intersected discrimination/ oppression) being the worst in terms of its association with mental health symptoms and cognitive deficits.…”

“…Type III trauma, the most critical, has five variants and subtypes, as discussed in the Introduction. There is strong support for the validity of the model, as Type III trauma, compared to trauma Types II and I, predicted more severe symptoms in Kira's (2021) research.…”

“…The Cumulative Stressors and Traumas Measure-Short Form-36 (Kira et al 2008) was devised to assess the stressors and traumas proposed by the DBTF that proposed an integrated taxonomy of stressors and traumas, in which trauma, once developed, is considered an acute stressor which affects the response to future traumatic events (e.g., Kira, 2001Kira, , 2019Kira, , 2021Kira, , 2022. It measures six trauma categories.…”

“…Type III traumas emerge from stressors that may still be ongoing and have a prolonged time scale and potentially higher density (Kira, 2001(Kira, , 2021(Kira, , 2022Kira, Ashby et al, 2013;Solomon & Heide, 1999;Terr, 1995). There is empirical support for the severity gradients of trauma types, with Type III being the most severe vis-à-vis their association with more negative health, mental health, and cognitive functioning (Kira, 2021). CTS trauma Type III has at least five variants or subtypes that vary in their protracted time scales, fluctuations, and densities which determine their potential impact severity.…”

Intersected discrimination through the lens of COVID-19: The case example of Christian minority in Iraq.

“…Cumulative stressors and trauma short form (CST-S) is based on the development-based trauma framework (DBTF; e.g., Kira, 2001, 2019, 2021a, 2021b; Kira et al, 2018; Kira, Shuwiekh, Al-Huwailah, et al, 2019; Kira, Shuwiekh, Kucharska, & Al-Huwailah, 2019). The scale is designed to measure seven types of stressors/traumas.…”