Trauma History Questionnaire: validation with novel samples of incarcerated women and perinatal women

ABSTRACT

Trauma exposure is associated with numerous negative outcomes, many of which are amplified within at-risk populations. Two under-researched and at-risk populations, incarcerated women and perinatal women, both report high rates of trauma, psychopathology, and PTSD compared to the general population. One common measure of trauma exposure in various populations, including incarcerated women and perinatal women, is the Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ). However, no known studies have validated the THQ within these two unique, understudied populations. Using data from two studies of incarcerated women and one study of perinatal women, researchers explored indices of THQ construct, predictive, and convergent validity. The study also included between-sample comparisons, highlighting differences in trauma incidence between the included samples. Analyses supported statistically significant relations between THQ scores and Severity of Violence Against Women Scale (SVAWS), depressive symptoms, PTSD, and psychological distress. Prenatal women’s THQ scores were also predictive of later postpartum depressive symptoms. Significantly higher THQ scores were found within the incarcerated samples compared to the perinatal sample. The study results provide further information about trauma within incarcerated and perinatal populations, as well as increase understanding of the utility of trauma assessments within these vulnerable groups.

KEYWORDS:

• Incarceration
• measure validation
• prenatal
• trauma

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data utilized in this author are available from the first author, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The work featured in this article was supported by funding from the Idaho State University (ISU) Department of Psycholgy, ISU College of Arts & Letters, and ISU Office of Research.