Sex differences in post-traumatic stress disorder in a high adversity cohort of South African adolescents: an examination of depressive symptoms, age, and trauma type as explanatory factors.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Evidence from high-income countries (HICs) has documented a higher rate of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in females than males. However, data are limited on sex differences in PTSD from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), despite particularly high levels of trauma experienced by LMIC youth.

Objectives

In a sample of adolescents from an impoverished South African community, we examined sex differences in PTSD, as well as co-occurring depression, adolescent age, and the type and extent of trauma exposure as potential contributors to female vulnerability.

Methods

Participants were recruited from high schools in the Khayelitsha area of Cape Town. Self-reported trauma exposure, PTSD and depressive symptoms were measured in 797 adolescents (62% fema

SUBMITTER: Hiscox LV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8530480 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature