A Cognitive-Behavioral Approach to Understanding Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Following Two “Armed and Dangerous Person” University Lockdowns

The cognitive-behavioral approach is the prevailing framework for understanding the etiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The model proposes that a series of posttraumatic cognitions (i.e., maladaptive negative thoughts and beliefs related to a trauma) as well as avoidance coping behavior maintain PTSD. Although past research has found associations among posttraumatic cognitions, avoidance coping, and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), relatively little is known about the occurrence of these constructs following community-wide stressors, such as “armed and dangerous person” university lockdowns. The current study was designed to (a) test key tenants of the cognitive-behavioral model, and (b) to identify the characteristics of individuals among a campus community who exhibited greater PTSS following lockdowns. In the aftermath (2-6 weeks later) of two lockdowns, campus community members (N = 287; e.g., students, staff, and faculty) completed self-report measures assessing posttraumatic cognitions, avoidance coping, and PTSS. Results indicated that both posttraumatic cognitions and avoidance coping were positively associated with PTSS, with the former relationship remaining robust even after controlling for levels of general distress and peritraumatic fear. In particular, posttraumatic cognitions with negative views of oneself or the world (but not self-blame) were individually associated with PTSS. The cognitive-behavioral model appears to partially explain variability in PTSS severity, with negative appraisals of the trauma and its sequelae characterizing individuals with more severe PTSS. These findings provide additional paths for early screening of individuals experiencing distress following community-wide stressors, such as university lockdowns.