scholarly journals A Dual-Model of Posttraumatic Stress and Posttraumatic Growth in a Community Sample of Female Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Survivors from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Author(s):  
Kimberley Anderson ◽  
Esmina Avdibegović ◽  
Amra Delić ◽  
Elisa van Ee ◽  
Heide Glaesmer ◽  
...  

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) are known psychological outcomes that can co-occur in the aftermath of a traumatic event. However, it is less clear how these outcomes interact – particularly for female survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) – and to what extent intermediary factors play a role in this relationship.<br/> Methods: In a sample of 192 war survivors from Bosnia & Herzegovina (n = 104 experienced CRSV, n = 88 did not), a structural equation model (LISREL 8.8) tested CRSV as a traumatic event, 'positive reinterpretation' (as a strategy of approach coping) and 'behavioural disengagement' (as a strategy of avoidance coping), and PTSD and PTG as psychosocial outcomes. A difference in the mechanisms by which PTG and PTSD interact in the two subgroups was hypothesised, given the differences in the nature of the trauma they experienced.<br/> Results: Through multiple indirect relationships, results showed that CRSV survivors respond to their trauma with both PTSD and PTG, suggesting a dual PTSDPTG mechanism. As for coping strategies, positive reinterpretation predicted greater PTG, and behavioural disengagement predicted greater PTSD. In the sample of nonsexual violence survivors, positive reinterpretation also remained a significant predictor of PTG.<br/> Conclusions: Positive reinterpretation as a coping strategy appears to be a stable characteristic that independently predicts PTG, irrespective of trauma type. Mental health professionals should take into account this mechanism when addressing the needs of CRSV survivors, but also war survivors more generally. Reframing traumatic events and post-trauma sequalae during treatment could lead to PTG and enhance recovery.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberley Anderson ◽  
Ivan Komproe ◽  
Amra Delić ◽  
Esmina Avdibegović ◽  
Elisa van Ee ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) are increasingly acknowledged as psychological outcomes that can co-occur in the aftermath of a traumatic event. Less clear however, is how these outcomes interact – particularly for female survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) – and to what extent intermediary factors such as coping play a role in this relationship. Methods: In a sample of 192 survivors of the 1990s conflict in Bosnia & Herzegovina; of whom 104 experienced CRSV, and 88 who did not, a structural equation model was tested using LISREL 8.8 that included CRSV as a traumatic event, ‘positive reinterpretation’ (as a strategy of approach coping) and ‘behavioural disengagement’ (as a strategy of avoidance coping), and PTSD and PTG as psychosocial outcomes. It was hypothesised that there would be differences in the mechanisms by which PTG and PTSD interact in the two subgroups, given the differences in the nature of the trauma they experienced. Results: Through multiple indirect relationships, results showed that CRSV survivors respond to their trauma with both PTSD and PTG, substantiating a dual PTSD-PTG mechanism, as opposed to a single spectrum with these outcomes at the poles. With regard to coping strategies, positive reinterpretation predicted greater PTG, and behavioural disengagement predicted greater PTSD. In the sample of non-sexual violence survivors, positive reinterpretation also remained a significant predictor of PTG. Conclusions: Findings suggest that positive reinterpretation as a coping strategy appears to be a stable characteristic that independently predicts PTG, irrespective of trauma type. Mental health care professionals should take into account this specific mechanism when addressing the needs of CRSV survivors, but also war survivors more generally. Reframing traumatic events and post-trauma sequalae during treatment could lead to greater PTG and enhance recovery.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberley Anderson ◽  
Ivan Komproe ◽  
Amra Delić ◽  
Esmina Avdibegović ◽  
Elisa van Ee ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) are increasingly acknowledged as psychological outcomes that can co-occur in the aftermath of a traumatic event. Less clear however, is how these outcomes interact – particularly for female survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) – and to what extent intermediary factors such as coping play a role in this relationship.Methods In a sample of 192 survivors of the 1990s conflict in Bosnia & Herzegovina; of whom 104 experienced CRSV, and 88 who did not, a structural equation model was tested using LISREL 8.8 that included CRSV as a traumatic event, ‘positive reinterpretation’ (as a strategy of approach coping) and ‘behavioural disengagement’ (as a strategy of avoidance coping), and PTSD and PTG as psychosocial outcomes. It was hypothesised that there would be differences in the mechanisms by which PTG and PTSD interact in the two subgroups, given the differences in the nature of the trauma they experienced.Results Through multiple indirect relationships, results showed that CRSV survivors respond to their trauma with both PTSD and PTG, substantiating a dual PTSD-PTG mechanism, as opposed to a single spectrum with these outcomes at the poles. With regard to coping strategies, positive reinterpretation predicted greater PTG, and behavioural disengagement predicted greater PTSD. In the sample of non-sexual violence survivors, positive reinterpretation also remained a significant predictor of PTG.Conclusions Findings suggest that positive reinterpretation as a coping strategy appears to be a stable characteristic that independently predicts PTG, irrespective of trauma type. Mental health care professionals should take into account this specific mechanism when addressing the needs of CRSV survivors, but also war survivors more generally. Reframing traumatic events and post-trauma sequalae during treatment could lead to greater PTG and enhance recovery.


Author(s):  
Kimberley Anderson ◽  
Ivan Komproe ◽  
Amra Delić ◽  
Esmina Avdibegović ◽  
Elisa van Ee ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) are increasingly acknowledged as psychological outcomes that can co-occur in the aftermath of a traumatic event. Less clear however, is how these outcomes interact – particularly for female survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) – and to what extent intermediary factors such as coping play a role in this relationship.Methods In a sample of 192 survivors of the 1990s conflict in Bosnia & Herzegovina; of whom 104 experienced CRSV, and 88 who did not, a structural equation model was tested using LISREL 8.8 that included CRSV as a traumatic event, ‘positive reinterpretation’ (as a strategy of approach coping) and ‘behavioural disengagement’ (as a strategy of avoidance coping), and PTSD and PTG as psychosocial outcomes. It was hypothesised that there would be differences in the mechanisms by which PTG and PTSD interact in the two subgroups, given the differences in the nature of the trauma they experienced.Results Through multiple indirect relationships, results showed that CRSV survivors respond to their trauma with both PTSD and PTG, substantiating a dual PTSD-PTG mechanism, as opposed to a single spectrum with these outcomes at the poles. With regard to coping strategies, positive reinterpretation predicted greater PTG, and behavioural disengagement predicted greater PTSD. In the sample of non-sexual violence survivors, positive reinterpretation also remained a significant predictor of PTG.Conclusions Findings suggest that positive reinterpretation as a coping strategy appears to be a stable characteristic that independently predicts PTG, irrespective of trauma type. Mental health care professionals should take into account this specific mechanism when addressing the needs of CRSV survivors, but also war survivors more generally. Reframing traumatic events and post-trauma sequalae during treatment could lead to greater PTG and enhance recovery.


Psichologija ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 7-18
Author(s):  
Evaldas Kazlauskas ◽  
Irma Šimėnaitė ◽  
Danutė Gailienė

Potrauminis augimas yra teigiami psichologiniai padariniai po traumos, kurie pasireiškia savęs suvokimo, požiūrio į pasaulį ir tarpasmeninių santykių pokyčiais (Tedeschi and Calhoun, 1996). Pozityvūs procesai po traumos dar tik pradedami tyrinėti, todėl nėra žinoma, kokios yra potrauminio augimo (PTA), trauminio įvykio intensyvumo ir potrauminio streso sutrikimo (PTSS) sąsajos. Siekiant įvertinti ryšius tarp trauminės patirties ir PTSS bei PTA, buvo ištirti 104 studentiško amžiaus jaunuoliai, per savo gyvenimą patyrę bent vieną trauminį įvykį. Tako analizės modelis parodė, kad subjektyvus trauminės patirties intensyvumasyra veiksnys, reikšmingai prognozuojantis tiek PTSS, tiek PTA. Kuo reakcija į trauminį įvykį yra stipresnė, tuo labiau išreikšti PTSS ir PTA požymiai. Nustatytas nestiprus teigiamas ryšys tarp PTSS ir PTA parodė, kad, norėdami geriau suprasti, kaip jaučiasi asmenys po traumos, turime atsižvelgti ir į teigiamus (PTA), ir į neigiamus (PTSS) traumos padarinius. Pagrindiniai žodžiai: trauma, potrauminis stresas, potrauminis augimas.RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRAUMA EXPOSURE, POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH AND POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDEREvaldas Kazlauskas, Irma Šimėnaitė, Danutė Gailienė SummaryObjectives: The notion that traumatic experiences may have an impact on human mind is very old. Recent developments in psychotraumatology shifted the approach to a trauma from a purely negative to a more positive perspective. Research confirmed that traumatic events may lead not only to posttraumatic stress or other disorders, but also to positive changes. The present research was based on the concept of Posttraumatic Growth developed by Calhoun and Tedeschi (1996), which is widely known in the field of traumatic stress. Although the number of Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) research is growing rapidly, little is known about Posttraumatic Growth predictors. The present research was designed to find out the links between Posttraumatic Growth, Posttraumatic Stress and initial reactions to the traumatic event. We set up two goals of the study: 1) evaluation of how initial traumatic reactions predict PTG, and 2) assessment of links between PTG and PTSD.Methods: A group of 104 university students exposed to at least one life-time traumatic event participated in the study. The average time gap between exposure to a traumatic event and the time of research was 43 months. The intensity of initial reactions to a traumatic event was measured using a 10-item selfrating inventory developed by the authors of the present study. The Subjective Traumatic Experience (STE) inventory consisted of items covering cognitive, emotional and physiological reactions to a traumatic event. Posttraumatic Growth was measured using the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PGI) developed by Tedeschi and Calhoun (1996). Previous research showed satisfactory psychometric properties of the Lithuanian version of PGI (Gailienë & Kazlauskas, 2005). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder was measured using the Lithuanian version of Impact of Event Scale – Revised (IES-R). A recent validation of the IES-R on Lithuanian population showed its good psychometric properties (Kazlauskas et al., 2006).


Crisis ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 186-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yossi Levi-Belz ◽  
Lilac Lev-Ari

Abstract. Background and aims: The world loses approximately one million people to suicide every year, leaving behind many suicide-loss survivors, family members and friends, who are significantly affected by the traumatic loss. Yet some suicide-loss survivors not only manage to cope with the loss, but actually experience posttraumatic growth (PTG). To date, no studies have fully examined the psychological processes that underlie this personal positive change. We hypothesized that attachment style would predict PTG and this association would be mediated by self-disclosure and social support. Method: A community sample of 131 suicide-loss survivors (108 women), aged 18–70, self-reported on attachment style, self-disclosure, social support, and PTG. Results: Securely attached individuals scored highest on PTG compared with other attachment styles. A structural equation model confirmed that self-disclosure and social support mediated the association between attachment and PTG. Suicide-loss survivors with secure attachment tended to self-disclose more and to perceive greater support from others than did suicide-loss survivors with insecure attachment, thus enhancing their chances of PTG. Limitations: The sample comprised mostly female participants, and the findings may not be directly generalizable to male suicide-loss survivors. Conclusion: Our results suggest that different psychological interventions should be utilized for suicide-loss survivors with particular attachment styles. Psychotherapies aiming to modify internal working models may be useful for enhancing PTG among survivors characterized by insecure attachment styles.


2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 17303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayse Nuray Karanci ◽  
Sedat Işıklı ◽  
Ahmet Tamer Aker ◽  
Ervin İzmit Gül ◽  
Burçak Başbuğ Erkan ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcin Sękowski ◽  
Małgorzata Gambin ◽  
Karolina Hansen ◽  
Paweł Holas ◽  
Sylwia Hyniewska ◽  
...  

Given the high COVID-19 mortality, the disease itself may be experienced as a life-threatening and traumatic event. Therefore, in the article we try to answer three questions that are relevant to public mental health: Should mental health professionals prepare for the increase in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence due to the pandemic? Can we define groups of COVID-19 survivors who are at higher risk of developing PTSD? How can health specialists prepare for it? Given the results of previous research on PTSD in epidemic survivors (e.g. SARS), we suggest that mental health professionals in countries touched by the pandemic should prepare for an increase in the PTSD prevalence in individuals who have had COVID-19. The PTSD risk group includes mainly individuals: from groups at increased risk of complications or who have experienced complications; who were not provided healthcare due to health service overload; experiencing additional mental health problems; healthcare workers; and stigmatized groups. We postulate that individuals who experienced COVID-19 should be routinely screened for PTSD; particular attention should be given to individuals at risk. Mental health services should prepare for providing therapeutic interventions for individuals with PTSD, and support to families, especially children, of COVID-19 survivors with PTSD.


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 175-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl Tatano Beck ◽  
Sue Watson ◽  
Robert K. Gable

Up to 45% of new mothers have reported experiencing birth trauma. For some individuals who have experienced a traumatic event, there can be a positive legacy called posttraumatic growth. Using Tedeschi and Calhoun’s Posttraumatic Growth Model as the theoretical framework, the purpose of this pilot study was to determine levels of posttraumatic stress, core beliefs disruption, and posttraumatic growth in women who have experienced traumatic childbirth. Thirty mothers completed the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale-Self Report, Core Beliefs Inventory, and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. Type of birth and length of time since the traumatic birth occurred predicted 38% of the variance in posttraumatic growth. In order to help mothers, childbirth educators need to understand the process involved in posttraumatic growth.


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