Posttraumatic stress, perceived hostile intention and reactions to peer provocation: A longitudinal study in US inner‐city youth

Background Previous studies indicated that perceived hostile intention may mediate the link between traumatic experiences and aggressive behaviors, but the longitudinal associations between posttraumatic stress (PTS) and reactions to perceived provocation in adolescents have been underexplored. This study examined the longitudinal impact of PTS on the responses to and attribution of intentionality in peer provocation. Methods The study was conducted with a representative sample of predominantly ethnic minority youth ( N = 2014; 50.5% female; age 12–14 years old ( M (SD) = 12.19 (0.83)); 60.6% African‐American, 27.6% Hispanic American, 10.1% White). The participants completed self‐reports on PTS in year 1 and appraised responses to hypothetical peer provocation scenarios that adolescents can encounter in their daily lives in year 2. Results Higher levels of PTS were associated with more frequent choices of physical and verbal aggression, retaliation, teacher mediation, a less frequent choice of ignoring the situation and higher perceived hostile intention behind provocation. Compared to their female counterparts, boys more frequently chose reactions of physical aggression and retaliation, while girls more frequently reported verbal aggression and negotiation strategies. An interaction effect of PTS by gender suggested that compared to girls, boys with higher levels of PTS had more difficulty ignoring perceived peer provocation. Perceived hostile intention fully or partially mediated the association between PTS and physical aggression, verbal aggression, wish for retaliation, not being willing to negotiate, and the lower tendency to ignore provocation. Conclusion High levels of PTS may significantly influence gender‐specific patterns of aggressive responses during conflicts with peers, while perceived hostile intention seems to mediate these associations. These findings may be relevant for the rehabilitation of traumatized youth, and should be taken into account when planning the treatment of adolescents with PTS.