# Trajectories of Adaptation to Traumatic Stress in a Vulnerable Population

> **NIH NIH SC3** · HUNTER COLLEGE · 2020 · $117,000

## Abstract

Transgender individuals are disproportionately burdened by chronic (e.g., interpersonal rejection) and acute
(victimization) discrimination. According to minority stress theory, both forms of discrimination are associated
with adverse mental health outcomes including PTSD, a stress sensitive disorder that may arise from exposure
to life-threatening events, serious injury, or sexual assault. While PTSD effects an estimated 6.8% of the U.S.
general population, prevalence estimates in transgender samples range from 18%-61%. Arguably, both PTSD
and chronic and persistent threats to one’s identity in the form of everyday discrimination produce similar
stress responses. Exposure to daily discrimination may also exacerbate traumatic stress responses for
transgender people already exposed to traumatic stressors. However, the unique and interactive effects of
these stressors are poorly understood, particularly among transgender individuals. Understanding the impact
of daily discrimination on the onset, maintenance, and course of PTSD in the acute aftermath of trauma
exposure has been stymied by reliance on cross-sectional and self-report methods. Longitudinal studies are
needed to elucidate temporal pathways among traumatic stress, daily discrimination, and PTSD. Further, given
that the leading explanatory theory for minority health disparities proposes that stressors associated with
minority status lead to negative mental health outcomes through a host of shared mechanisms inter- and
intrapersonal mechanisms, it is important to conduct research with gender minorities to understand the unique
processes that contribute to observed disparities. Whereas the majority of transgender individuals demonstrate
resilience in a context of pervasive societal oppression, uncovering biopsychosocial mechanisms underlying
vulnerability to and protection against chronic trauma-related distress and functional impairment represents a
key research priority. The goal of this SC3 is to fill a substantial gap in the science of adaptation to traumatic
stress by examining trajectories and mechanisms of risk and resilience among transgender individuals
assessed using a multimethod longitudinal approach. The PI will recruit a diverse sample of trauma-exposed
transgender individuals in New York City to participate in a multimethod longitudinal research protocol.
Participants who enroll in the study will complete a gold-standard clinical interview to assess PTSD symptoms
and provide a salivary cortisol sample within 1-month of trauma exposure, and again at a 3, 6, and 12-month
follow-up assessments. For 14-days following the baseline, 3, and 6-month assessment session, participants
will also complete daily diary measures assessing degree and type of exposure to daily discrimination and
putative intra- and interpersonal mechanisms of risk and resilience responses to traumatic stress. Findings
from the study will culminate in the development of research and practice guidelines for the ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9935212
- **Project number:** 1SC3GM136580-01
- **Recipient organization:** HUNTER COLLEGE
- **Principal Investigator:** Danielle Shea Berke
- **Activity code:** SC3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $117,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9935212

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9935212, Trajectories of Adaptation to Traumatic Stress in a Vulnerable Population (1SC3GM136580-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9935212. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*