Social support and psychological consequences in females exposed to war trauma

Abstract

Background:

The war in Bosnia and Hercegovina caused a massive psychotraumatisation in female civilian population.In addition the postwar transitional processes are cousing unemplointment,social insecurity, poverty and the disruption of family ties. In that situation the social support, especialy that from family members could play the major role in preventing posttraumatic simptoms.

Objective:

To find out what are the long term psychological consequences of war psihotraumatisation and how social support influence the psychological outcome in female population in Mostar, BiH wich was exposed to extreme war devastation and postwar etnic division.

Method:

Target group was 187 randomly selected females living in Mostar who were exposed to whole spectrum of war traumatic events.The control group were 180 females living in county close to Mostar area wich was not directly exposed to war destruction.A batery of psychological tests were applied to mesure traumatic exposure,psychological symptoms, social support and demografic data.

Result

Femals in target group shows significantly more traumatic experiences (10,3:3,27) and PTSD prevalence(28,3%:4,4%).They experienced more stresfull life events after war,are more often widows or devorced and have lower quality of life.Predictors of PTSD symptoms were level of traumatisation and low support from colegues and friends in target group and low family support and quality of life in controls.