Journal of Anxiety Disorders
Volume 35, 2015, Pages 1-8

Pathways involving traumatic losses, worry about family, adult separation anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms amongst refugees from West Papua (Article)

Tay A.K.* , Rees S. , Chen J. , Kareth M. , Silove D.
  • a Psychiatry Research and Teaching Unit, School of Psychiatry and Ingham Institute, University of New South WalesNSW, Australia
  • b Psychiatry Research and Teaching Unit, School of Psychiatry and Ingham Institute, University of New South WalesNSW, Australia
  • c Simpson Centre for Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • d Psychiatry Research and Teaching Unit, School of Psychiatry and Ingham Institute, University of New South WalesNSW, Australia
  • e Psychiatry Research and Teaching Unit, School of Psychiatry and Ingham Institute, University of New South WalesNSW, Australia

Abstract

There is some evidence that adult separation anxiety disorder (ASAD) symptoms are closely associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) amongst refugees exposed to traumatic events (TEs), but the pathways involved remain to be elucidated. A recent study suggests that separation anxiety disorder precedes and predicts onset of PTSD. We examined a path model testing whether ASAD symptoms and worry about family mediated the path from traumatic losses to PTSD symptoms amongst 230 refugees from West Papua. Culturally adapted measures were applied to assess TE exposure and symptoms of ASAD and PTSD. A structural equation model indicated that ASAD symptoms played an important role in mediating the effects of traumatic losses and worry about family in the pathway to PTSD symptoms. Although based on cross-sectional data, our findings suggest that ASAD symptoms may play a role in the path from traumatic losses to PTSD amongst refugees. We propose an evolutionary model in which the ASAD and PTSD reactions represent complementary survival responses designed to protect the individual and close attachments from external threats. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.

Author Keywords

West Papua Adult separation anxiety Refugees Loss Worry posttraumatic stress

Index Keywords

anxiety emotional deprivation refugee human epidemiology Refugees war ethnology traumatic loss adult separation anxiety worry about family Cross-Sectional Studies cross-sectional study Humans psychology male female Indonesia prevalence Papuan people Article Family Relations Papua New Guinea adult Anxiety, Separation separation anxiety posttraumatic stress disorder family relation Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic structural equation modeling psychotrauma exposure to violence patient worry
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84939177115&doi=10.1016%2fj.janxdis.2015.07.001&partnerID=40&md5=61dd991b4d72f129dadd69a0758294e5
DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.07.001
ISSN: 08876185
Cited by: 5
Original Language: English