Post-Traumatic Stress in Adolescence: The Mediating Role of Time Perspective Between Trauma Exposure, PTSD Symptoms, and Cannabis Use

Post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) are associated with an imbalanced time perspective (TP) as well as with unhealthy substance use. Although neurodevelopmental processes during adolescence may impact PTSS, most etiological models of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are derived from studies with adults and neglect possible distinctive characteristics in adolescent PTSD. This study examined possible direct and mediated relations between exposure to potentially traumatic experiences (EPTEs) and PTSS with TP as a potential mediator. In addition, the study investigated the direct and indirect effects of EPTE, TP, and PTSS on cannabis use. The aim of this study was to investigate whether findings from adult studies can be transferred to adolescent PTSD. One hundred and five patients between 14 and 20 years of age were recruited from child and adolescent psychiatric units. They answered questionnaires to assess EPTE, PTSS, TP, and cannabis use. Participants with clinically relevant PTSS showed imbalanced TP with a high orientation to negative past and a low orientation to positive past and future. Higher EPTE was associated with higher level of PTSS, but TP mediated the level of PTSS in this relation. PTSS predicted the frequency of cannabis use. It may therefore be beneficial to consider TP in PTSD therapy with the aim of reducing deviation from balanced TP and PTSS and preventing comorbid substance use.