“Violence is Everywhere”: Childhood Polyvictimization, Perceptions of the Prevalence of Victimization, and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 376-393
Author(s):  
Laura Miller-Graff ◽  
Kathryn H. Howell ◽  
Caroline R. Scheid ◽  
Lauren Schaefer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Negative Mood ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
The United States ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Childhood Victimization ◽  
Stress Symptoms

Childhood polyvictimization is related to a heightened risk for mental health and functional problems in young adulthood, including posttraumatic stress symptoms, but little research has examined how perceptions of the prevalence of victimization may contribute to specific symptoms of posttraumatic stress. The primary aims of the current study were to (a) evaluate the accuracy of young adults' beliefs about the prevalence of multiple types of childhood victimization and (b) determine how inaccurate appraisals of victimization prevalence are associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms. College students (n = 369) drawn from two geographic regions of the United States responded to an online survey assessing their experiences of childhood victimization, perceptions about the prevalence of victimization, emotion regulation skills, and mental health. Childhood polyvictimization was significantly and positively related to distorted appraisals of the prevalence of victimization overall (r = .26, p < .001), and emotion regulation was associated with symptoms of posttraumatic stress in all domains. Distorted perceptions of the prevalence of victimization were linked to higher symptoms of hyperarousal, but not to higher symptoms of reexperiencing, avoidance, or negative mood/cognition. Results suggest that emotion regulation skills training is likely to be beneficial for many individuals experiencing posttraumatic stress, and intervention around perceptions of the prevalence of victimization may be useful for addressing symptoms of hyperarousal.

scholarly journals The Mental Health of Latinx Adults in the United States During the Coronavirus Pandemic: A Snapshot of Anxiety, Depression, and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bianca T. Villalobos ◽  
Juventino Hernandez Rodriguez
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Life Impact ◽  
Anxiety Depression

The current study documented levels of anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress, and COVID-19 fears and impacts among Latinxs in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants of this cross-sectional study were 388 Latinx adults who completed an online survey between June and November 2020. Almost half of participants showed clinical levels of anxiety and depression and more than a quarter of participants showed clinical levels of posttraumatic stress. Latinxs reported on average 22 types of negative pandemic life impacts. Group differences based on gender, educational attainment, income, vulnerability to COVID-19, and essential worker status were found for mental health symptoms. Severity of COVID-19 fears and negative life impact counts were related to gender, nativity, educational attainment, vulnerability to COVID-19, and insurance status. Specific Latinx groups experienced greater levels of psychological distress during the pandemic. Further examination of risk and protective factors is needed for communities of color.

Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Victims of the Tokyo Subway Sarin Attack: Twenty Years Later

2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 794-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin Nakamine ◽  
Maiko Kobayashi ◽  
Hiroyuki Fujita ◽  
Sachiko Takahashi ◽  
Yutaka Matsui
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Comparison Group ◽  
Terrorist Attack ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Stressful Event ◽  
Secondary Victimization ◽  
Stress Symptoms

Introduction: Previous studies found that about 10–30% of terrorist attack survivors suffer mental disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which persist up to 10 years. However, little is known about whether the effects of terrorism on mental health could last for a longer period or whether physical symptoms and secondary victimization are associated with the persistence of mental disorders. Method: A questionnaire survey was conducted with the victims of the Tokyo subway sarin attack in March 1995 (N = 299). Victims’ physical and ophthalmic symptoms, secondary victimization, and posttraumatic stress symptoms were surveyed. For comparison, those who have experienced a stressful event were surveyed with the same instruments as of victims’ survey except secondary victimization. Results: Results indicated that 21.3% of the male and 36.1% of the female victims were in the high-risk group for posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), which did not differ from those of the comparison group. However, victims had physical and ophthalmic symptoms of greater severity than the comparison group. Moreover, we found that PTSS was strongly associated with physical symptoms and secondary victimization. Discussion: There is a need to develop a support system that would be helpful in reducing mental health suffering of terrorist victims. Providing regular physical checkups and building support for those who experience life changes caused by victimization are suggested.

scholarly journals Mental Health Self-Stigma of Syrian Refugees With Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms: Investigating Sociodemographic and Psychopathological Correlates

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Bär ◽  
Alexander Pabst ◽  
Susanne Röhr ◽  
Melanie Luppa ◽  
Anna Renner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Syrian Refugees ◽  
Internalized Stigma ◽  
Stress Symptoms

Background: The high prevalence of mental disorders related to posttraumatic stress among Syrian refugees is often in contrast with their low utilization of mental health care in the host countries. Mental health self-stigma, i.e., internalized stigma of having a mental disorder, could prevent individuals from seeking mental health care. Therefore, we aimed to provide evidence on different aspects of mental health self-stigmatization among adult Syrian refugees with posttraumatic stress symptoms residing in Germany. Moreover, we investigated associations with sociodemographic and psychopathological variables in order to identify those at higher risk of self-stigmatization.Material and Methods: Overall, 133 participants with mild to moderate posttraumatic stress symptoms were recruited in the metropolitan areas of Leipzig, Dresden and Halle, Germany, using a multimodal approach. Mental health self-stigma was assessed using the Self-Stigma of Mental Illness Scale – Short Form (SSMIS-SF), consisting of four subscales (Stereotype awareness, Stereotype agreement, Application to self , Harm to self-esteem), each scoring from 5 (low) to 45 (high) points. Linear regression analysis was used to test associations of sociodemographic and psychopathological variables with self-stigma subscales.Results: On average, self-stigma ratings ranged from 16.5 (SD = 6.6) points on Application to self to 28.3 (SD = 7.5) points on Stereotype awareness. Results showed higher scores on Application to self for individuals who were younger (t = 2.65, p = 0.009) and single (F = 5.70, p = 0.004). Regression analyses yielded statistically significant associations between having multiple comorbidities and a higher Application to self stigma (β = 0.18, p = 0.044), controlling for sociodemographic covariates.Discussion: Mental health self-stigma was increased among Syrian refugees in Germany. Correlates of increased self-stigma could inform efforts to improve access to mental health care among Syrian refugees with mental ill-health. Longitudinal studies following an intersectional approach by concurrently examining multiple forms of public and internalized stigma could provide helpful insights for developing tailored stigma reduction efforts in this context.

Attention bias variability and posttraumatic stress symptoms: the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 1300-1307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicia K. Klanecky Earl ◽  
Alyssa M. Robinson ◽  
Mackenzie S. Mills ◽  
Maya M. Khanna ◽  
Yair Bar-Haim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Attention Bias ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Attention Bias Variability

Effect of a group intervention for children and their parents who have cancer

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 575-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariko Kobayashi ◽  
Sue P. Heiney ◽  
Kaori Osawa ◽  
Miwa Ozawa ◽  
Eisuke Matsushima
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
The United States ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Children And Parents ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTObjective:Although support programs for children whose parents have cancer have been described and evaluated, formal research has not been conducted to document outcomes. We adapted a group intervention called CLIMB®, originally developed in the United States, and implemented it in Tokyo, Japan, for school-aged children and their parents with cancer. The purpose of this exploratory pilot study was to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of the Japanese version of the CLIMB® Program on children's stress and parents' quality of life and psychosocial distress.Methods:We enrolled children and parents in six waves of replicate sets for the six-week group intervention. A total of 24 parents (23 mothers and 1 father) diagnosed with cancer and 38 school-aged children (27 girls and 11 boys) participated in our study. Intervention fidelity, including parent and child satisfaction with the program, was examined. The impact of the program was analyzed using a quasiexperimental within-subject design comparing pre- and posttest assessments of children and parents in separate analyses.Results:Both children and parents experienced high levels of satisfaction with the program. Children's posttraumatic stress symptoms related to a parent's illness decreased after the intervention as measured by the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder–Reaction Index. No difference was found in children's psychosocial stress. The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy scores indicated that parents' quality of life improved after the intervention in all domains except for physical well-being. However, no differences were found in parents' psychological distress and posttraumatic stress symptoms.Significance of results:Our results suggest that the group intervention using the CLIMB® Program relieved children's posttraumatic stress symptoms and improved parents' quality of life. The intervention proved the feasibility of delivering the program using manuals and training. Further research is needed to provide more substantiation for the benefits of the program.

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