Traumatic Events and Mental Health in the Community: a New Zealand Study

• Published in: International journal of social psychiatry 2010-01, Vol.56 (1), p.35-49
• Main Authors: Kazantzis, Nikolaos, Flett, Ross A., Long, Nigel R., MacDonald, Carol, Millar, Michelle, Clark, Bronwyn
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accidents; Accidents - psychology; Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Age differences; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anxiety disorders. Neuroses; Biological and medical sciences; Community; Crime - psychology; Crime - statistics & numerical data; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ethnicity; Female; Gender; Health Surveys; Humans; Interview, Psychological; Life Change Events; Male; Medical sciences; Mental health; Middle Aged; New Zealand; Personality Inventory - statistics & numerical data; Post traumatic stress disorder; Psychological distress; Psychological trauma; Psychological well being; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychometrics; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Sampling; Stress; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Symptoms; Trauma; Traumatic life events; Violence - psychology; Violence - statistics & numerical data; Violent crime; Well being; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0020-7640; 1741-2854
• DOI: 10.1177/0020764008095929

Background: Adverse mental health effects in response to a variety of distressing events in specific populations are well documented. However, comparatively little research has been conducted within large community samples outside North America. Aims: To assess the prevalence and psychological impact of specific traumatic events in a New Zealand community sample. Methods: Prevalence and psychological impact of 12 traumatic events was examined in a community sample of 1,500 New Zealand adults using a three-stage cluster sampling method. Traumatic events, psychological distress, psychological well-being, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms were assessed using modifi ed versions of the Traumatic Stress Schedule, Mental Health Inventory, and Civilian Mississippi Scale. The effects of age, gender and ethnicity were controlled for while assessing impact of traumatic events. Results: Sixty-one per cent of the sample experienced trauma events in their lifetime, with 9% experiencing events in the past year. Accident-related events were most common in the present sample. Violent crime produced the greatest impact. Tests of interactions involving age, gender, and ethnicity were not significant. Conclusions: New Zealand community-residing individuals experience post-traumatic stress symptoms, reduced psychological well-being, and increased psychological distress following the experience of violent crime and accidents specifically. Study limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.