Secondary traumatization describes the phenomenon whereby those in proximity to trauma survivors develop psychological symptoms similar to those experienced by the direct survivor. The current study ...examined secondary trauma (ST) and generalized distress symptoms (general psychiatric symptomatology, functional disability, and self-rated health) in wives of former prisoners of war (ex-POWs). The study compared wives of Israeli ex-POWs from the 1973 Yom Kippur War with wives of a matched control group of non-POW Yom Kippur War combat veterans (CVs). The wives also were divided into groups based on their husbands' current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) status and PTSD trajectory (i.e., chronic, delayed), and their outcomes were compared with resilient CVs. We found that wives of ex-POWs with PTSD reported higher ST and generalized distress than wives of ex-POWs and non-POW CVs without PTSD. Wives of ex-POWs with chronic PTSD reported the highest levels of functional disability. We also found that the relationships between husbands' prior captivity, and wives' ST and general psychiatric symptomatology were fully mediated by the husbands' PTSD symptoms. These findings indicate that it is exposure to a partner with PTSD that leads to overall ST and other distress symptoms, and not simply to a trauma survivor. Furthermore, the more severe their husbands' PTSD, the more wives are at risk for ST and general psychiatric symptomatology. Wives of partners with PTSD should therefore be considered high-risk groups for ST and distress that may require targeted interventions.
This study prospectively assessed the implications of war captivity and former prisoners of war's (ex-POWs) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and PTSD trajectory on their wives' marital ...adjustment, adjusting for their secondary traumatization (ST). Results show that marital adjustment of the wives of ex-POWs with PTSD (N = 66) was lower compared to wives of ex-POWs (N = 37) and combat veterans (N = 55) without PTSD symptoms. Investigating the possible mechanism underlying the lower marital adjustment, via a mediating model, indicated that husbands' PTSD symptoms mediated the association between captivity and the wives' marital adjustment. Moreover, husbands' PTSD trajectories assessed over 17 years were implicated in their wives' marital adjustment; wives of ex-POWs with chronic PTSD reported lower marital adjustment compared to wives of resilient ex-POWs. The substantial novelty was revealed in prospective deterioration found in dyadic adjustment among wives of ex-POWs with delayed PTSD, but not for wives of chronic or resilient ex-POWs. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Countless people around the world live with exposure to continuous traumatic stress (CTS) as a result of violent political conflict. Over the past 15 years, residents of southern Israel have been ...exposed to rocket fire from Gaza with varying intensity, and their mental health has been the subject of many studies. The purpose of this article was to systematically review the empirical literature on psychopathology in the southern Israel adult population exposed to CTS, focusing on their symptomatic picture, prevalence rates, and risk and protective factors. Twenty-eight quantitative articles were identified for review. The reviewed studies reported high levels of probable posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and other psychopathological reactions among the CTS population during low-intensity periods, which appear to rise sharply during escalations. This review identified high-risk groups based on community of residence, level of exposure, socioeconomic factors, and perceived social support. This review proposes that future studies use intensive, longitudinal methods to elucidate the effect of changing exposure intensity, and that interventions target the identified vulnerable groups, with a focus on intrapersonal, social, and community protective factors highlighted in the review.
We investigated the relationships between secondary traumatization, marital adjustment, and self-rated health among wives of former prisoners of war. Participants were Israeli wives of former ...prisoners of war (N = 116) and a matched control group of wives of combat veterans (N = 56). Wives of former prisoners of war reported worse self-rated health compared to the control group of wives of combat veterans. Wives of former prisoners of war also reported higher levels of secondary traumatization, and marital adjustment moderated the relationship between wives’ secondary traumatization and their general health. The experience of living with former prisoners of war who might also suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder is associated with wives’ own psychological and self-rated health outcomes.
The current study investigated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and vicarious trauma (VT) symptoms among mental health professionals (MHPs) working in communities exposed to high levels of trauma ...related to rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip. The study assessed direct and vicarious traumatic exposure. The study also explored the relationship between professional supports (for example, training, supervision) and sense of professional self-efficacy with MHPs’ PTSD and VT symptoms. Results indicate that MHPs working in the more severely affected community of Sderot reported higher objective, subjective, and professional exposure as well as higher levels of PTSD and VT symptoms compared with MHPs working in some of the other Gaza-bordering communities. Although PTSD and VT were found to be highly correlated, there were some distinct predictors. PTSD was predicted by professional experience, subjective exposure, and professional self-efficacy. VT was further predicted by years of education and professional support. The findings indicate that MHPs exposed to concurrent primary trauma and VT are at increased risk for psychological distress and may require targeted interventions to boost their resilience. Opportunities for respite, interventions to increase professional self-efficacy, and appropriate professional supports may buffer the effects of concurrent primary trauma and VT exposure.
This study prospectively examines the longitudinal course of loneliness, social support, and posttraumatic symptoms (PTS) among Israeli war veterans. Two groups of veterans with and without ...antecedent combat stress reaction (CSR) were assessed at three points of time during a 20-year period. Veterans with CSR reported higher levels of loneliness compared with veterans without CSR. Loneliness remained stable among veterans with CSR but decreased among veterans without CSR. Baseline level of social support predicted the trajectory of change in loneliness. Finally, higher levels of PTS and lower levels of social support were associated with more loneliness among veterans with CSR.
The current study aims to (1) assess the long-term impact of war captivity on mortality and various health aspects and (2) evaluate the potential mediating role of posttraumatic stress disorder ...(PTSD) and depressive symptoms. Israeli ex-prisoners of war (ex-POWs) (
N
= 154) and a matched control group of combat veterans (
N
= 161) were assessed on health conditions and self-rated health 18 years post-war (1991: T1). The whole population of ex-POWs, and the T1 sample of controls were then contacted 35 years after the war (2008: T2), and invited to participate in a second wave of measurement (ex-POWs:
N
= 171; controls:
N
= 116) Captivity was implicated in premature mortality, more health-related conditions and worse self-rated health. PTSD and depressive symptoms mediated the relationship between war captivity and self-rated health, and partially mediated the relationship between war captivity and health conditions, and these effects were amplified with age. Aging ex-POWs who develop psychiatric symptomatology should be considered a high-risk group entering a high-risk period in the life cycle. It is important to monitor ex-POWs and provide them with appropriate medical and psychological treatment as they age.
The aversive impact of combat and combat-induced posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on parenting of young children has been examined in a few studies. Nevertheless, the toll of war captivity on ...parenting and the long-term relations between posttraumatic symptoms and paternal parenting of adult children remains unknown. This longitudinal study examined paternal parenting of adult children among war veterans, some of whom were held in captivity. Furthermore, we examined the mediating role of PTSD symptoms in the association between captivity and parenting. The sample included two groups of male Israeli veterans from the 1973 Yom Kippur War: ex-prisoners of war (ex-POWs) and comparable veterans who had not been held captive. Both groups were assessed via self-report measures of PTSD at three time points: Time 1 (18 after the war), Time 2 (30 after the war), and Time 3 (35 after the war) years after the war. Results shows that ex-POWs reported lower levels of positive parenting compared to comparison group veterans at Time 3. Furthermore, PTSD symptoms at Time 1, Time 2, and Time 3 mediated the association between captivity experience and parenting at Time 3. In addition, it was found that increases in the levels of PTSD symptom clusters over time were associated with lower levels of positive parenting at Time 3.
