Trauma is a near-universal experience. According to the National Council for Behavioral Health, 70 percent of U.S. adults have experienced a traumatic event in their lifetime. In accordance with this statistic, one would expect post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to have a similar prevalence. However, the National Institute of Mental Health places the lifetime prevalence of PTSD at around 6.8 percent. So what are the reasons for such a significant disparity?
Put simply, not everyone who goes through a traumatic event will necessarily develop PTSD. This is in part due to what is known as resilience factors.
Put simply, not everyone who goes through a traumatic event will necessarily develop PTSD. This is in part due to what is known as resilience factors. As defined by an article published in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry, resilience factors are “the dynamic ability to adapt successfully in the face of adversity, trauma, or significant threat.”
According to Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child, the most commonly observed factor in children who develop resilience is having a stable and supportive relationship with a caregiver. Relationships such as these are vital in providing a buffer against developmental disruption. Stable parental relationships are also key in allowing children to develop the skills to monitor and regulate their own behavior. Such capabilities enable children to be adaptive rather than hindered in the face of adversity. In essence, the foundation of resilience relies on supportive relationships and adaptiveness. Importantly, as discussed by Masten et. al. in 2018, research has demonstrated that resilience is highly dependent on a child’s relationships as opposed to any inherent qualities. Kumpfer et al. noted other environmental factors tied to resilience, including low family stress, stable parental health, a lack of alcohol or drug abuse present in the family, and an overall sense of safety and security. These factors form the vital backdrop which allows children to develop strong coping skills, despite the traumatic experiences they may encounter. Beyond the scope of the family, community factors play a significant role in developing resilience. These can include a supportive mentor figure, safe neighborhood, extracurricular activities, or even involvement in a religious or faith-based community. The underlying truth here seems to be that what is going on around a person when they experience trauma can be just as significant as what is going on inside them.
These concepts also translate to studies conducted on subjects with post-traumatic stress. A study conducted by Marshall et. al. in 2006 examined a subset of 88 male Vietnam veterans who were affected by war-related PTSD. The study found that of the soldiers who experienced potentially traumatic experiences while in combat, approximately 31.6 percent ended up developing PTSD. Furthermore, when the researchers narrowed their analysis to focus on the soldiers that had the most severely traumatizing exposures, there was still a significant proportion that did not develop PTSD — around 30 percent. This seems to suggest that there are other factors at play that influence whether or not someone will ultimately develop PTSD. In the Marshall study, the researchers found that factors such as abuse during childhood and pre-existing psychiatric disorders contributed to the likelihood that veterans developed post-traumatic stress. In other words, while the severity of trauma logically plays a role in the development of PTSD, outside factors from early childhood development have a significant role to play.
While the severity of trauma logically plays a role in the development of PTSD, outside factors from early childhood development have a significant role to play.
So what can one do to bolster their resilience in the face of trauma? According to the Mayo Clinic, many things can improve resilience. For example, one can work on connecting with loved ones, remaining hopeful, learning from experience, practicing self-care, and being proactive when facing problems. Self-care can involve leaving time for hobbies and interests or practicing stress management techniques such as meditation and yoga. By learning from how one has dealt with issues in the past, one can analyze what helped and what did not. One’s ability to be resilient is not set in stone. While we cannot always change the circumstances in which we grew up, we can choose how to deal with the aftermath.
PTSD can be a chronic and debilitating condition, but by bolstering resilience it can be managed or potentially even avoided altogether. As such, there is hope for those who suffer from traumatic experiences. While trauma may not be avoidable throughout one’s life, those who experience it do have the potential to both process it and even flourish.
Harvard Review of Psychiatry (2018). DOI: 10.1097/HRP.0000000000000194
Children (2018). DOI: 10.3390/children5070098
Resilience and Development (2002). DOI: 10.1007/0-306-47167-1_9
Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease (2006). DOI: 10.1097/01.nmd.0000207363.25750.56
