World Assumptions Mediate Associations Between Polytrauma With Psychological Symptoms in Kenyan Adolescents

We analyzed the association between direct and indirect exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACE) with psychiatric and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms exploring the mediating role of world assumptions. A sample of 477 Kenyan adolescents completed self-report questionnaires. Serial multiple mediation models were tested. Worthiness of the self mediated the association between indirect exposure to ACE with PTSD and psychiatric symptoms in females. Worthiness of the self mediated the association between direct exposure with psychiatric symptoms, and benevolence of the world mediated the association between direct exposure with PTSD symptoms in males. More negative world assumptions might be seen as a possible psychological distress mechanism after exposure to ACE in African adolescents.