Date of Award

6-20-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology (PhD)

Department

Clinical Psychology

First Advisor/Committee Member

Amy Mezulis, Ph.D.

Second Advisor/Committee Member

Keyne C. Law, Ph.D.

Third Advisor/Committee Member

Brittany Willey, Ph.D.

Abstract

Traumatic stress exposure is common and associated with a range of adverse psychological outcomes, including anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These effects are cumulative, with increased exposure linked to greater psychological distress. However, there is considerable variability in how individuals respond to trauma, suggesting the influence of cognitive and dispositional factors. Cognitive models of PTSD highlight the role of stressor appraisals in the development of psychopathology, while individual differences in protective factors, such as trait resilience, may buffer these effects. The present study investigated whether perceived stress mediates the relationship between trauma exposure and psychological outcomes, and whether trait resilience moderates these relationships. A cross-sectional sample of 252 undergraduate students (Mage = 20.13, SD = 2.29; 84% female) from a private university in the Pacific Northwest completed measures of trauma exposure, perceived stress, psychopathology (anxiety, depression, PTSD symptoms), and trait resilience. Results supported the hypothesis that perceived stress partially mediates the association between trauma exposure and all assessed outcomes. Contrary to expectations, trait resilience did not consistently moderate these relationships. These findings support cognitive models of trauma-related psychopathology and highlight perceived stress as a potential target for intervention. Limitations include cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported trauma exposure.

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