Polish adaptation of the Trigger Warning Attitudes Scale: Examining correlations with trauma-related measures

Abstract

Trigger warnings are precautionary messages designed to help individuals prepare for potentially upsetting content. Originally developed in fan communities and support groups, they have evolved to serve as protective measures against traumatic material in educational environments. While recent studies suggest their clinical effectiveness may be limited, the broader sociopolitical impact remains unclear. This study investigates attitudes toward trigger warnings in Poland, aiming to adapt and validate the Trigger Warning Attitudes Scale (TWAS) and explore its relationship with trauma-related factors in academic contexts. A total of 196 students participated (134 online, 62 via paper-and-pencil), with the two-factor model showing an excellent fit (RMSEA = 0.039) and good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = .86). Measurement stability (test-retest over 3 weeks) and construct validity (correlations with trauma-related constructs: The Impact of Events Scale Revised, Disclosure of Trauma Questionnaire, and Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory) were confirmed. The Polish version of TWAS demonstrates strong psychometric properties, making it a reliable tool for assessing attitudes toward trigger warnings. The identification of a two-factor structure – Institutional Expectations and Personal Relevance – provides preliminary evidence that attitudes toward trigger warnings are multidimensional, a distinction that may inform future research on their role in educational settings.