The Relationship Between Race-Based Traumatic Stress and the Trauma Symptom Checklist: Does Racial Trauma Differ in Symptom Presentation?

This study examined the relationship between race-based traumatic stress symptoms and traditional trauma symptoms in Black Americans. Although research has shown that experiences of racial discrimination can result in stress and trauma reactions, less is known about how these symptoms present and their relationship with traditional trauma presentation. Participants were 230 community-based Black American adults (58.7% male). Criterion-related profile analysis was used to examine the level and arrangement of race-based traumatic stress symptoms which predict trauma reactions in participants who report varying levels of racial stress. Level of race-based traumatic stress symptoms were significant predictors of trauma across all groups. However, the presentation of symptoms predicting trauma reactions differed between the No-Racial Stress and Racial Stress groups. In the Racial Stress group, depression, intrusion, anger, and low self-esteem primarily drove the relation between race-based traumatic stress symptoms and trauma reactions. Notably, the presence of hypervigilance was not predictive of trauma reactions for those with racial stress. Pattern in symptom presentation was not significant for the Racial Trauma group. These findings provide support for consideration of different symptom presentation when assessing trauma resulting from racial encounters.