|
|
Bergen Open Research Archive >
Faculty of Medicine >
Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care >
Section for Nursing Science >
Denne identifikatoren kan du bruke til å sitere eller lenke til denne innførselen:
http://hdl.handle.net/1956/2573
|
| Tittel: | Exposure to non-domestic violence : short- and long-term psychological reactions and the impact on quality of life |
| Forfattere: | Johansen, Venke A. |
| Dato: | 7-Dec-2007 |
| Forlag: | The University of Bergen |
| Sammendrag: | The purpose of this study was to describe characteristics of exposure to non-domestic
violence, and to evaluate short- and long-term psychological consequences and the impact on
quality of life. Demography, physical injuries, crime characteristics, and emotions during the
assault were described, based on a cross-sectional design that combined data collected by
questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The association between these factors was also
evaluated (Paper I). Our results showed that most of the victims were young men assaulted by
unknown attackers in public places. Seventy-six per cent of the participants suffered injuries
to the head, face or eyes. Anxiety was the most frequent emotion felt during the assault.
About 60% experienced a combination of subjective factors, such as fear of serious injury or
fear of being killed during the assault, and actual physical injury.
Acute and subacute post-traumatic reactions were described through the examination of
frequency and intensity of peritraumatic dissociation (PD), post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) symptoms, and anxiety and depressive symptoms, and the relationships between
psychological reactions, level of physical injury, perceived threat, and sociodemographic
variables were explored (Paper II). Thirty-three per cent of the victims scored as probable
PTSD cases according to the PTSS-10; the corresponding IES-15 score identified prevalence
of 34% respectively. Forty-four per cent scored as cases with probable anxiety and
depression, according to the HSCL-25. Severity of perceived threat predicted higher scores on
all measures of psychological reactions. Analyses of acute or subacute reactions showed no
statistical significant differences between elapsed time since exposure to violence and PD,
PTSD, anxiety and depression, or threat level.
The prevalence of PTSD symptoms was measured in a one-year longitudinal perspective of
physically injured victims. Furthermore, the predictors of PTSD symptoms were analysed in
relation to PD, physical injury, perceived life threat, prior experience of violence, perceived
social support, and perceived self-efficacy (Paper III). Results showed a high prevalence and
severity of PTSD on all outcomes. Either injury severity or prior experience of being a victim
of violence predicted PTSD in this study. Perceived life threat was a predictor of PD and early
PTSD predicted subsequent PTSD in the present study. Low perceived self-efficacy was a
predictor of PTSD and influenced perceived social support at T1. Furthermore, lack of perceived social support was a predictor of PTSD symptoms at T3.
Quality of life (QoL) was also assessed in a one-year longitudinal perspective, and finally,
possible predictive factors of QoL (prior experience of violence, level of physical injury,
perceived life threat, cohabitation, and PTSD symptoms) were examined (Paper IV).
Generally, WHOQOL-Bref values associated with probable PTSD were lower than values
associated with no cases. Individuals who scored as probable PTSD or as risk level cases had
significantly lower scores on the QoL domains such as physical health, psychological health,
social relationships and environmental than those without PTSD symptoms. For each category
of PTSD (probable cases, risk level cases and no cases), the mean levels of the WHOQOLBref
subscales (the four domains and the two single items) were stable across time of
assessment. PTSD symptoms predicted lower QoL at all three assessments. Similarly PTSD
symptoms at T1 predicted lower QoL at T2 and PTSD symptoms at T2 predicted lower QoL
at T3.
Our findings support the understanding of PTSD as a complex phenomenon. Early
identification of important risk factors, included in an optimal treatment strategy, would
perhaps protect against the development of PTSD. Being aware of symptoms such as
perceived life threat and PD during the event and PTSD symptoms in the acute phase, would
help to identify some of those in need of special follow-ups. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1956/2573 |
| ISBN: | 978-82-308-0459-9 (print version) |
| Vises i samlingene: | Section for Nursing Science
|
Alle innførsler i BORA er beskyttet av opphavsrett
|
