Which Groups Affected by Potentially Traumatic Events (PTEs) Are Most at Risk for a Lack of Social Support? A Prospective Population-based Study on the 12-month Prevalence of PTEs and Risk Factors for a Lack of Post-event Social Support

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2020 May 30

PMID 32469880

Citations 12

Authors

Peter G van der Velden

Ivan Komproe

Carlo Contino

Marika de Bruijne

Rolf J Kleber

Marcel Das

Henk Schut

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: Little is known about the 12-month prevalence of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and to what extent the type of PTE is a risk factor for post-event lack of social support. In addition, it is largely unknown if pre-event mental health problems and loneliness, and demographics are risk factors for a lack of support. Aim of the present prospective study is to fill these gaps in evidence-based knowledge.

Methods: A survey was conducted among a large random sample of the Dutch adult population (i.e. the longitudinal LISS panel) in March-April 2018, and linked with pre-event mental health and loneliness data from surveys conducted in 2016 (n = 5,879). We distinguished four forms of perceived social support: emotional and esteem support, and social recognition and general disapproval.

Results: Loss of a significant other and/or colleague (28%) was the most prevalent 12-month PTE. The 12-month prevalence of violence, accidents and/or, and theft-related events was 13%. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed no differences in lack of emotional and esteem support, or in lack of recognition across non-death PTEs and death-related PTEs. However, victims of threat and physical (sexual) violence more often faced disapproval than those affected by burglary and accidents. Results furthermore showed that pre-event mental health problems, pre-event loneliness and stress during the PTE were important independent predictors of forms of support and acknowledgment. Affected individuals with a non-Western background more often lacked support and acknowledgment.

Conclusions: Many adults are confronted with a PTE during a year. In general, pre-event factors and stress during the event are better predictors of a perceived lack of support and acknowledgment than type of event. Early screening programs should especially assess pre-event mental health and loneliness, besides levels of stress during the event, to identify affected people who are at risk for a lack of social support and acknowledgment.

Citing Articles

Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health.

Weeks M, Marion D, Robert A, Carleton R Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2025; 45(1):20-38.

PMID: 39817709 PMC: 11785161. DOI: 10.24095/hpcdp.45.1.02.

Experiences of trauma and psychometric properties of the Life Events Checklist among adults in Uganda.

Morawej Z, Misra S, Ametaj A, Stevenson A, Kyebuzibwa J, Gelaye B PLoS One. 2024; 19(4):e0298385.

PMID: 38687810 PMC: 11060541. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298385.

A preliminary study investigating the neglected domain of mental health in Australian lifesavers and lifeguards.

Fien S, Lawes J, Ledger J, Drummond M, Simon P, Joseph N BMC Public Health. 2023; 23(1):1036.

PMID: 37259042 PMC: 10231295. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15741-5.

Loneliness in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Neglected Factor in Accelerated Aging?.

Palmer B, Hussain M, Lohr J J Ageing Longev. 2022; 2(4):326-339.

PMID: 36567873 PMC: 9783482. DOI: 10.3390/jal2040027.

To what extent do post-traumatic mental health and other problems reflect pre-existing problems? Findings from the prospective comparative population-based VICTIMS-study.

van der Velden P, Contino C, Das M, Wittmann L Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2022; 69(4):841-852.

PMID: 36464851 PMC: 10248301. DOI: 10.1177/00207640221140287.

References

Hoge C, Riviere L, Wilk J, Herrell R, Weathers F . The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in US combat soldiers: a head-to-head comparison of DSM-5 versus DSM-IV-TR symptom criteria with the PTSD checklist. Lancet Psychiatry. 2015; 1(4):269-77. DOI: 10.1016/S2215-0366(14)70235-4. View

Hepp U, Gamma A, Milos G, Eich D, Ajdacic-Gross V, Rossler W . Prevalence of exposure to potentially traumatic events and PTSD. The Zurich Cohort Study. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2005; 256(3):151-8. DOI: 10.1007/s00406-005-0621-7. View

Koenen K, Ratanatharathorn A, Ng L, McLaughlin K, Bromet E, Stein D . Posttraumatic stress disorder in the World Mental Health Surveys. Psychol Med. 2017; 47(13):2260-2274. PMC: 6034513. DOI: 10.1017/S0033291717000708. View

McFarlane A . PTSD and DSM-5: unintended consequences of change. Lancet Psychiatry. 2015; 1(4):246-7. DOI: 10.1016/S2215-0366(14)70321-9. View

Schumm J, Koucky E, Bartel A . Associations between perceived social reactions to trauma-related experiences with PTSD and depression among veterans seeking PTSD treatment. J Trauma Stress. 2014; 27(1):50-7. DOI: 10.1002/jts.21879. View

Steine I, Winje D, Skogen J, Krystal J, Milde A, Bjorvatn B . Posttraumatic symptom profiles among adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse: A longitudinal study. Child Abuse Negl. 2017; 67:280-293. DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.03.002. View

Creamer M, Burgess P, McFarlane A . Post-traumatic stress disorder: findings from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being. Psychol Med. 2001; 31(7):1237-47. DOI: 10.1017/s0033291701004287. View

Ware Jr J, Sherbourne C . The MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36). I. Conceptual framework and item selection. Med Care. 1992; 30(6):473-83. View

Bronner M, Peek N, de Vries M, Bronner A, Last B, Grootenhuis M . A community-based survey of posttraumatic stress disorder in the Netherlands. J Trauma Stress. 2009; 22(1):74-8. DOI: 10.1002/jts.20379. View

10.

Bebanic V, Clench-Aas J, Raanaas R, Nes R . The Relationship Between Violence and Psychological Distress Among Men and Women: Do Sense of Mastery and Social Support Matter?. J Interpers Violence. 2015; 32(16):2371-2395. DOI: 10.1177/0886260515591978. View

11.

Jones B, Muller J, Maercker A . Trauma and posttraumatic reactions in German development aid workers: prevalences and relationship to social acknowledgement. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2006; 52(2):91-100. DOI: 10.1177/0020764006061248. View

12.

Gabert-Quillen C, Irish L, Sledjeski E, Fallon W, Spoonster E, Delahanty D . The Impact of Social Support on the Relationship between Trauma History and PTSD Symptoms in Motor Vehicle Accident Victims. Int J Stress Manag. 2012; 19(1):69-79. PMC: 3314329. DOI: 10.1037/a0026488. View

13.

Frans O, Rimmo P, Aberg L, Fredrikson M . Trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder in the general population. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2005; 111(4):291-9. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2004.00463.x. View

14.

Vries G, Olff M . The lifetime prevalence of traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder in the Netherlands. J Trauma Stress. 2009; 22(4):259-67. DOI: 10.1002/jts.20429. View

15.

Bridges K, Sanderman R, van Sonderen E . An English language version of the social support list: preliminary reliability. Psychol Rep. 2002; 90(3 Pt 1):1055-8. DOI: 10.2466/pr0.2002.90.3.1055. View

16.

Steine I, Winje D, Krystal J, Bjorvatn B, Milde A, Gronli J . Cumulative childhood maltreatment and its dose-response relation with adult symptomatology: Findings in a sample of adult survivors of sexual abuse. Child Abuse Negl. 2017; 65:99-111. DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.01.008. View

17.

Brewin C . Autobiographical memory for trauma: update on four controversies. Memory. 2007; 15(3):227-48. DOI: 10.1080/09658210701256423. View

18.

Guay S, Billette V, Marchand A . Exploring the links between posttraumatic stress disorder and social support: processes and potential research avenues. J Trauma Stress. 2006; 19(3):327-38. DOI: 10.1002/jts.20124. View

19.

McNally R . Debunking myths about trauma and memory. Can J Psychiatry. 2006; 50(13):817-22. DOI: 10.1177/070674370505001302. View

20.

Nickerson A, Creamer M, Forbes D, McFarlane A, ODonnell M, Silove D . The longitudinal relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder and perceived social support in survivors of traumatic injury. Psychol Med. 2016; 47(1):115-126. DOI: 10.1017/S0033291716002361. View