Resilience in Real Time: Ecological Momentary Assessments Show Social Networks Buffer Black Youths’ Posttraumatic Stress in Trauma-Reminding Places

Youth exposed to community violence experience elevated posttraumatic stress (PTS), which may vary across contexts such as trauma-reminding places and social networks. Few studies have examined these contextual influences in real time. Black youth ages 13 to 19 years who had recently been exposed to community violence completed ecological momentary assessment (EMA) surveys three times daily for 2 to 4 weeks. EMAs measured brief, real-time, contextualized experiences. Multilevel models tested associations of place-based trauma reminders and social networks with (1) PTS symptoms and (2) feelings of security. Forty-four Black youth (64% female, M _age  = 16.1 years) completed 1,105 EMA surveys (64% average response rate). Individual averages and momentary analyses showed that experiencing place-based trauma reminders was linked with greater PTS symptoms. Perceived safety from social networks was linked with feelings of security, and perceived social pressure for trouble was linked with greater PTS symptoms. Significant interactions were found for both perceived safety from social networks and perceived social pressure for trouble with place-based trauma reminders when considering both individual averages and momentary reports. Findings highlight the interdependent role of places and social networks on emotional well-being in youth exposed to violence, with supportive networks co-occurring with lower PTS in trauma-reminding environments. The use of real-time EMA data provides novel insight into how these influences fluctuate across everyday settings. This study demonstrates the feasibility and value of EMA methods for measuring dynamic, lived experiences of marginalized youth. Findings emphasize the importance of supportive social networks in reducing PTS symptoms and enhancing feelings of security among Black youth exposed to community violence. This work supports the need for tailored interventions that foster positive social environments and respond to momentary, context-dependent risk and resilience processes.