Posttraumatic Cognitions, Avoidance Coping, Suicide, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Adolescent Refugees
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Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences
Abstract
This cross-sectional survey examined posttraumatic cognitions, avoidance coping, suicide and trauma-related disorders of
Congolese adolescent refugees in Nakivale refugee settlement. We interviewed 89 adolescents (aged 18-24 years; 62.9%
females) using the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory, Coping Response Inventory, MINI suicidality scale and Posttraumatic
Stress Diagnostics Survey. Forty-four (49.4%) adolescent satisfied the PTSD diagnostic criteria. Twenty-six adolescents
(29.2%) had moderate to high current suicide risk. Significant predictors including negative cognitions about self, emotional
discharge, and acceptance or resignation explained 33.6 percent of the variance in PTSD symptom severity. About 50.8
percent of the variance in PTSD was explained by risk factors including age, trauma load, and negative cognitions about self.
The findings suggest that for the adolescent refugees, negative appraisal and avoidance coping strategies used subsequent to
trauma exposure have implication for current psychological wellbeing. Therefore there is need to provide psychological
intervention to address these maladaptive posttraumatic problems.
Description
Keywords
Posttraumatic Cognitions, Avoidance Coping, Mental Health, Adolescent Refugee
Citation
Ssenyonga, J., Owens, V., & Olema, D. K. (2013). Posttraumatic cognitions, avoidance coping, suicide, and posttraumatic stress disorder among adolescent refugees. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 82, 261-265. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.06.256