Emotion identification and emotion sensitivity following interpersonal and non-interpersonal traumatic experiences: Results from the AURORA study
Author Department
Emergency Medicine
Document Type
Article, Peer-reviewed
Publication Date
8-2025
Abstract
Social cognition is an important mechanism linking trauma to psychopathology; however, current models fail to explain individual differences in social cognition after trauma exposure. We investigated whether the interpersonal nature of trauma exposure helps to explain variability in social cognitive outcomes. Our sample was derived from the AURORA study, a national initiative involving intensive follow-up of trauma survivors for one year. We analyzed data from 2241 participants (Mage = 35.12, 64% female, 54% Black) who experienced an assault (n = 262) or a motor vehicle collision (n = 1979). Social cognition was assessed with the Multiracial Emotion Identification Task and the Belmont Emotion Sensitivity Test. Overall emotion identification accuracy declined over time among participants who experienced interpersonal trauma (β = -.10, p = .03), but not non-interpersonal trauma (β = .00, p = .83). These results may help to enhance the prediction of psychopathological outcomes following trauma exposure.
Recommended Citation
Hudson CC, Rutter L, Joormann J, Passell E, McKemey RM, House SL, Beaudoin FL, An X, Stevens JS, Neylan TC, Jovanovic T, Linnstaedt SD, Rauch SL, Haran JP, Storrow AB, Lewandowski C, Musey PI Jr, Hendry PL, Sheikh S, Jones CW, Punches BE, Hudak LA, Pascual JL, Seamon MJ, Datner EM, Pearson C, Peak DA, Merchant RC, Domeier RM, Rathlev NK, O'Neil BJ, Sergot P, Sanchez LD, Bruce SE, Harte SE, Kessler RC, Koenen KC, McLean SA, Germine LT. Emotion identification and emotion sensitivity following interpersonal and non-interpersonal traumatic experiences: Results from the AURORA study. Clin Psychol Sci. 2025 Aug 16:10.1177/21677026251356428. doi: 10.1177/21677026251356428. Epub ahead of print.
PMID
40843243