Cumulative Trauma and Trauma Symptoms: A Three-Way Interaction

The purpose of this study was to test if perceived social support and self-compassion will interact reduce the magnitude bivariate relationship (buffering effect) between cumulative trauma symptoms after controlling for gender age among college students. As part a broader research project conducted 2018 2019, we collected data via online surveys from sample 551 undergraduate students at public university in southern region US. After cleaning, included 538 participants (representing 97.6% original dataset), ensuring diverse representation across various ethnicities genders. three-way interaction model accounted 38.61% variance PTSD symptoms. In detail, with high levels support, there significant difference buffering effects on trauma–PTSD association low self-compassion. Conversely, self-compassion, did not significantly influence effect This underscores critical role enhancing protective high-level against following trauma.