The hidden influence: how self-concealment shapes the effect of trauma centrality on PTSD symptoms and posttraumatic growth

Although trauma centrality was positively associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (PTG), few studies have examined the factors that may influence the strength of these associations. This study aimed to investigate whether self-concealment would moderate the effects of trauma centrality on PTSD and PTG. A total of 211 Chinese college students (77.3% female; age: M = 19.86, SD = 1.85) participated in this cross-sectional study. These participants completed a battery of measures for trauma centrality, self-concealment, PTSD, and PTG. Trauma centrality was positively associated with both PTSD and PTG. The moderating role of self-concealment in the effect of trauma centrality on PTSD and PTG was statistically significant. Specifically, self-concealment was found to strengthen the relation between trauma centrality and PTSD, while mitigating the relation between trauma centrality and PTG. The extent to which trauma centrality contributes to PTSD and PTG might be determined by self-concealment among Chinese college students. The implications of these findings were discussed.