Traumatic events and posttraumatic stress in cross-cultural mission assignments
Corresponding Author
Frauke C. Schaefer
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, P.O. Box 3003, Durham, NC 27710Search for more papers by this authorDan G. Blazer
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center and Center for the Study of Aging, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
Search for more papers by this authorKathryn M. Connor
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
Search for more papers by this authorBruce Burchett
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center and Center for the Study of Aging, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
Search for more papers by this authorJonathan R. T. Davidson
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Frauke C. Schaefer
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, P.O. Box 3003, Durham, NC 27710Search for more papers by this authorDan G. Blazer
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center and Center for the Study of Aging, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
Search for more papers by this authorKathryn M. Connor
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
Search for more papers by this authorBruce Burchett
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center and Center for the Study of Aging, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
Search for more papers by this authorJonathan R. T. Davidson
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
In addition to cross-cultural and environmental stressors, aid workers and missionaries are frequently exposed to trauma. We explored the frequency of traumatic events, their mental health impact, and factors associated with posttraumatic stress in two groups of missionaries, one representing a predominantly stable setting (Europe) and the other an unstable setting (West Africa). The 256 participants completed self-report measures assessing lifetime traumatic events, current posttraumatic stress, depressive and anxiety symptoms, resilience, and functioning. The rate of traumatic events was significantly higher in the unstable setting. More-frequent traumatic events were associated with higher posttraumatic stress. Factors associated with the severity of posttraumatic stress were depression, functional impairment, subjective severity and number of traumatic events, and the level of resilience.
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