Racial Differences in Response to Trauma: Comparing African-American, White, and Hispanic People With Severe Mental Illness

Objective: To test hypotheses that Hispanics will report greater posttraumatic stress symptoms than Whites or African-Americans with severe mental illness (N = 132) when lifetime trauma, psychiatric symptoms, and negative appraisal of trauma are controlled; and, that negative appraisal will mediate trauma and posttraumatic stress symptoms for Hispanics. Methods: Data were collected by staff in an urban community mental health center. Results: Hispanics reported greater posttraumatic stress symptoms, and negative appraisals mediated trauma and posttraumatic stress symptoms in Hispanics only. Conclusions: Practitioners should target both the intensity and meaning of trauma and its consequences as they may vary by ethnic/racial background.