Present study was conducted to find the relationship of posttraumatic stress disorder and social support on life orientation of traumatized adolescents. Moreover hypotheses were based on differences in rates of these variables among traumatized and non-traumatized adolescents as well as among male and female adolescents. Convenient sampling was used to collect data for this research. The sample of the study consisted of three hundred (N=300) adolescents including one hundred and fifty boys (n=150) and one hundred and fifty girls (N=150) with age ranges of 12-18 years. The non-traumatized sample was selected from Islamabad and traumatized sample was selected from Peshawar. The data was collected by using UCLA PTSD RI (DSM 5), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and Youth Life Orientation Test (Y-LOT).

Data characterizing the division of total sample on the basis of gender, age, socioeconomic status and trauma category explains that the age range of sample is 12-18 years. As the table shows, males make up about 50% and females make up about 50% of the total sample. Among 300 of the study sample, about 22% of the individuals lie in early adolescence age range, about 46% of the individuals lie in middle adolescence age range and about 32% of the individuals lie in late adolescence age range. Approximately 7% of the sample belonged to lower class, 80% of the sample belonged to middle class and about 13% of the participants belonged to upper class. The trauma category distribution of sample is equal i.e., traumatized adolescence (50%) and non-traumatized (50%) adolescents. However on the basis of scores on UCLA PTSD RI DSM-V traumatized adolescence are divided into two categories of PTSD positive (19%) and PTSD negative (31%).

Internal consistency was also determined through alpha coefficients for all the scales. The results show that all instruments i.e., UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM-V, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Youth Life Orientation Scale have high alpha coefficient reliabilities. The reliability for UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM-V is .78; Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support is .98 and Youth Life Orientation Scale is .59. These values indicate moderate to good reliabilities. The results show significant negative correlation between PTSD and social support. This proves the hypothesis that there will be a negative relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder and social support among adolescents.

Past research has also shown that, “even when stress is toxic, supportive parenting, positive peer relationships, and the availability and use of community resources can foster positive adaptation” [15]. That is, adolescents can learn to demonstrate resilience and to thrive when supported by trusted, nurturing, competent, and caring adults who offer positive guidance; provide opportunities for productive decision-making and constructive engagement in various social contexts; and promote the development of self-regulation, self-reflection, self-confidence, self-compassion, and character [16]. The results also explain significant negative correlation between PTSD and optimism whereas significant positive correlation between PTSD and pessimism among adolescents. Optimism represents positive aspect of life orientation whereas pessimism represents negative aspect of life orientation. This proves the hypothesis that there will be a negative relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder and optimism whereas positive relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder and pessimism among adolescents.

The aim of a previous study was to explore perceived posttraumatic growth (PTG) and its associations with potentially traumatic events (PTEs), dispositional optimism, perceived social support, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and satisfaction with life (SWL) among adolescent refugees and asylum seekers. The results of that study concluded that PTG was positively associated with dispositional optimism and social support. It was discovered that dispositional optimism and social support positively predicted PTG. Whereas PTG was also positively related with SWL [17]. In a previous study, differences were explored in personality and daily life experiences of traumatized (n= 26) versus nontraumatized (n= 30) college students. Study participants completed a variety of personality measures as well as a 28–day experience sampling study assessing daily activities, emotions, and physical health. Earlier age of trauma was associated with more pathological outcomes: lower self–esteem and psychological well–being, more anxiety, more pessimism, and emotional constriction of positive mood [10].

The results also show significant positive correlation between perceived social support and optimism whereas significant negative correlation between perceived social support and pessimism among adolescents. This proves the hypothesis that there will be a positive relationship between perceived social support and optimism whereas negative relationship between perceived social support and pessimism among adolescents. Social support is particularly significant in improvement from mental sufferings whenever a person face traumatic events and harsh stress [7]. For instance, presence of social support will provide comfort in experience of traumatic hurricane in adolescent sample [18]. A lot of previous researches have confirmed that social support has a link with initiation of posttraumatic stress disorder. Powerful social support gives protection to persons against mental disorders and also assists psychological improvements after trauma and destruction. Thus, social support might have long lasting impact on lessening the influences of any disaster or trauma.

The results of this study explained that significant negative correlation exists between optimism and pessimism among adolescents. Some Previous studies are also consistent with the findings.Chang [19] describes optimism and pessimism as psychological dimensions in which optimism represents a positive bias in perceptions and expectations in favour of positive features in life, while pessimism represents a negative bias. Optimists and pessimists seem to differ in their health habits their physiological response to stimuli, and in their overall psychological behavior (e.g., coping strategy, use of social support networks, attribution style, and mental health). Optimists have a set of epistemological beliefs such as that the world is good and that all human beings who inhabit it must work hard to achieve more in life. They believe that the future holds positive opportunities with successful outcomes for them [20]. This enables them to approach the world in a proactive and positive manner. On the other hand, pessimists tend to look at the world and future experiences in a reactive and negative fashion. They view the world as a place of bad experiences and events [21].

Regression analysis of the present study shows the predictive value of posttraumatic stress disorder and social support on life orientation. The table depicts that posttraumatic stress disorder (β = .21, t= 2.1, p< .01) and social support (β = .40, t= 0.6, p< .01) are significant predictors of life orientation in adolescents. The value of R² shows that 38% of variance is accounted for in life orientation by both posttraumatic stress disorder and social support. The above stated prediction is significant at F (5.89) and p< .01. The results of the present study also indicate that traumatized adolescents have significantly high rates of PTSD than non-traumatized adolescents. Traumatized adolescents have significantly high rates of social support as compared to non-traumatized adolescents. The results further explain that traumatized and non-traumatized adolescents have approximately equal rates of optimism and pessimism as no significant differences are observed. This proves the hypothesis that traumatized and non-traumatized adolescents are different on posttraumatic stress disorder, social support and life orientation. Some studies consistent with the findings are described below.

Studies conducted in war zones indicate that exposure to the traumatic event leads to the development of PTSD in childhood and adulthood [22]. Various other studies have been performed to determine the incidence of PTSD consequential of exposure to traumatic events. Studies after different conflicts have produced results ranging from a high incidence to low incidence of children with PTSD who had been exposed to war and conflicts. A study on Kuwaiti children who had lived through the Gulf war found that 70% of children showed symptoms of PTSD ranging from moderate to severe [23]. A study from September 11, 2001, conducted by Schuster and others [24], examined 768 adults affected by the attacks and interviewed majority of them. The researchers assessed the participants’ stress reactions and symptoms, and subsequently their behavioral responses. Majority of the participants had indicated to turn to social support and volunteering and participation in social and community activities. Furthermore, majority of the participants in response cared and looked after the safety of their close others, made donations, and helped other afflicted individuals [24].

Several advantages of social support has been proved in many past researches from many kinds of cultures like a sample consisting of males and females of Norwegian population [6] as well as a sample consisting of American adolescents. In second research, social support from several resources was said to be an important cause of lessening the signs of depression and increasing the rates of self-esteem [25]. Furthermore, findings suggest that males have slightly high rates of PTSD than females while males have significantly high rates of social support as compared to females. The results further explain that males and females have approximately equal rates of optimism and pessimism as no significant differences are observed.