Journal of Traumatic Stress
Volume 30, Issue 6, 2017, Pages 682-689

Posttraumatic Stress, Somatization, and Quality of Life Among Ivorian Refugees (Article)

Kounou K.B.* , Brodard F. , Gnassingbe A. , Dogbe Foli A.A. , Sager J.C. , Schmitt L. , Bui E.
  • a Psychiatry and Medical Psychology Service, University Hospital of Toulouse, Paul Sabatier University (Toulouse 3), Toulouse, France, University of Lausanne, Family and Development (FADO) Research Centre, Lausanne, Switzerland, University of Lomé, National Institute of Education Sciences, Lomé, Togo
  • b University of Lausanne, Family and Development (FADO) Research Centre, Lausanne, Switzerland
  • c Global Health Institute, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
  • d University of Lomé, National Institute of Education Sciences, Lomé, Togo, University of Toulouse 2 - Jean Jaurès, Laboratory of Psychology and Socialization, Development and Work, Toulouse, France
  • e Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation, and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Boston, MA, United States
  • f Psychiatry and Medical Psychology Service, University Hospital of Toulouse, Paul Sabatier University (Toulouse 3), Toulouse, France
  • g Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation, and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Boston, MA, United States, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

The present study examined the relationship between peritraumatic reactions, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, somatization, and quality of life (QoL) in a sample of refugees, two years after the 2011 Ivory Coast sociopolitical crisis. Participants were 101 Ivorian adult refugees (mean age = 31.61 years, SD = 7.84; 45.5% women) who completed several questionnaires relating to peritraumatic reactions, PTSD symptoms, somatization, and QoL. Most participants (86.1%) scored above the cutoff for probable PTSD. Peritraumatic dissociation and peritraumatic distress were significantly associated with PTSD symptoms, (r =.64, p <.001) and (r =.60, p <.001), respectively, and somatization, (r =.21, p =.038) and (r =.35, p <.001), respectively, as well as with QoL, (r = –.20, p =.045) and (r = –.21, p =.037), respectively. Similarly, QoL was significantly negatively correlated with PTSD symptoms (r = −.33, p <.001) and somatization (r = −.39, p <.001). In multivariate analyses, somatization was the strongest predictor of QoL (β = −.31, p =.003). Finally, somatization statistically mediated the association between peritraumatic distress and QoL. These findings suggest that PTSD may be frequent among Ivorian refugees, and that somatization may be an important feature of the traumatic experiences. Targeting somatization in conjunction with trauma-centered therapy may improve outcomes in sub-Saharan Africans with PTSD. Copyright © 2017 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

refugee human Life Change Events Refugees middle aged life event statistics and numerical data ethnology Cross-Sectional Studies quality of life Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans psychology male female Retrospective Studies adult posttraumatic stress disorder Togo Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic exposure to violence retrospective study medically unexplained symptom Medically Unexplained Symptoms Cote d'Ivoire
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85037995295&doi=10.1002%2fjts.22244&partnerID=40&md5=7bd7e8412d44d83f3d4d6481a736faac
DOI: 10.1002/jts.22244
ISSN: 08949867
Original Language: English