PTSD, Complex PTSD, and Childhood Abuse: Gender Differences among a Homeless Sample

Abstract

The current study examined the potential relationship between homelessness, gender, and occurrence of Post-Traumatic Distress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD. Participants were 90 homeless persons from shelters located in a large, South Central Texas, metropolitan city of approximately 1.9 million persons. The study found that homeless participants reported high levels of childhood emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Homeless women reported higher rates of childhood abuse and were affected by PTSD at a higher frequency than homeless males. PTSD, Complex PTSD, and traumatic experiences such as childhood abuse appear to be contributing factors to homelessness. Results suggest the need for increased advocacy among counseling and psychology professionals is warranted for homeless persons experiencing PTSD.

Gender, sex and complex PTSD clinical presentation: a systematic review

“…Three papers reported index trauma(s) by gender and/or sex without statistical analyses. In de Vries et al ( 2018 ), who reported childhood abuse, most women reported emotional abuse, then sexual abuse and physical abuse. Among men, physical abuse was most common and sexual abuse least common.…”

“…There were two subthemes: no gender and/or sex differences, and higher rates among women or females. Eight studies found no gender and/or sex differences (Charak et al, 2023 ; de Vries et al, 2018 ; Hecker et al, 2018 ; Ho et al, 2021 ; Hyland, Ceannt, et al, 2018 ; Karatzias et al, 2019 ; McGinty et al, 2021 [Israel sample]; Søegaard et al, 2021 ). Most of these papers scored between 60% and 100% in quality assessment (one scored 40%).…”

“…Ethnicity: 82.5% White; 10.3% Latinx; 2.2% Biracial/Multiracial; 0.4% Asian, 4.5% ‘additional category not listed’ ITQ 19.1% met diagnostic criteria for CPTSD ( n = 43): n = 23 gender diverse or transgender, n = 20 cisgender Similar rates of CPTSD diagnoses in cisgender and gender diverse or transgender participants Cissexism related to gender expression was positively associated with DSO factors ( r = .365, p < .01) 60% Cloitre et al ( 2019 )* USA* Prevalence of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD diagnoses Nationally representative household sample of community adults ( N = 1839) Specifies sex – refers to ‘male’ and ‘female’ in demographics and ‘men’ and ‘women’ in results Age: 18–70 ( M = 44.50). 52% F; 48% M. Ethnicity: 63.8% White; 36.2% ‘non-White’ ITQ, LEC Women had significantly higher rates of CPTSD diagnoses than men ( OR = 1.82, 95% CI [1.10, 3.01]) 80% de Vries et al ( 2018 ) USA Relationship between homelessness, gender and PTSD and CPTSD diagnoses Homeless adults ( N = 90) Specifies gender – refers to ‘male’ and ‘female’ in demographics and ‘men’ and ‘women’ in results Age: 18–61 ( M = 37.64). 58% F; 42% M. Ethnicity: 37% White; 28.9% Hispanic; 18.9% African American; 8% ‘other’; 7.8% did not respond SIDES No significant relationship found between gender and CPTSD or DESNOS scores 40% Fernández-Fillol et al ( 2021 ) Spain CPTSD in survivors of IPV Adult women survivors of IPV ( N = 162) Not specified – paper refers to ‘women’ Age: 20–75 ( M = 41.42).…”

“…0 Statistics for each hypothesis described and appropriate. 1 de Vries et al ( 2018 ) Non-random sampling – Ps were recruited in homeless shelters. Appropriate for target population.…”