Posttraumatic Symptomatology, Meaning in Life, and Perceived Family Functioning in Nonclinical Trauma-Exposed University Students

Objective: This study aims to explore and analyze the associations among posttraumatic symptoms, meaning in life dimensions, and perceived family functioning in trauma-exposed university students. Method: Participants (N = 158) answered a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Posttraumatic Stress Global Assessment (Crespo et al., 2017), the Purpose in Life Test (Crumbaugh & Maholick, 1969), and the Family APGAR (Smilkstein, 1978). Results: Outcomes indicated several negative associations between posttraumatic symptoms and both meaning in life and family functioning areas. Conclusions: These findings suggest family functioning and meaning-in-life clinical practical relevance concerning the assessment, prevention, and intervention in persons affected by trauma. Clinical Impact Statement Trauma is common and may lead to mental disorders and other psychological problems. However, little is still known about the relationship between posttraumatic symptoms and other factors associated with mental health, such as perceived family functioning and meaning in life. Our primary interest was to assess these connections in trauma-affected university students through an exploratory study using statistical analysis. Family functioning, specifically the area of affectivity, was negatively associated with posttraumatic symptoms. Additionally, a higher level of meaning was linked to a less severe traumatic impact. Findings suggest these areas as important targets for trauma prevention, assessment, and intervention programs.