Development of Anticipatory Trauma Scale: Relationship With Social Support, Resilience, Mental Well‐Being

ABSTRACT

Anticipatory trauma involves extreme anxiety, mental preoccupation, bodily tension and emotional distress experienced before a potential traumatic event. Individuals may suffer from stress, worry, preparedness behaviours and impairments in social and personal functioning due to the expectation that they or their loved ones may face a significant risk, accident, attack, disaster or similar traumatic experience in the future. This study aims to develop a reliable and valid Anticipatory Trauma Scale (ATS) and examine its role within a serial mediation model among adults. The study was conducted in three stages. In Study 1 ( N  = 463), confirmatory factor analysis was used to validate the 10‐item ATS. Reliability analyses showed that the scale had high internal consistency, while item response analysis indicated the discriminatory power of the items. In Study 2 ( N  = 491), correlation analysis indicated that the ATS was significantly associated with life satisfaction, the Big Five personality traits, stress, anxiety, depression and trauma coping self‐efficacy. In Study 3 ( N  = 569), structural equation modelling demonstrated that social support and resilience serially mediated the relationship between ATS and mental well‐being. Findings suggest that interventions should focus on building resilient social networks and effective coping mechanisms to support the mental health of individuals experiencing trauma and anxiety.