Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(11-12), 2021, pp.5250-5276.
Publisher:
Sage
This article describes the experience and impact of domestic violence on adolescents using qualitative methodology. It explores the meanings that adolescents give to their experiences and how this may relate to the impact of those experiences. Five adolescents who were receiving interventions within child and adolescent mental health services were interviewed about their experiences of domestic violence and the interviews were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The results suggest that adolescents had a range of thoughts and feelings connected to their experiences, and that the impact of the domestic violence may be related to the different meanings that the adolescents gave to their experiences and how they made sense of those experiences. The results are explored using theories such as Grych and Fincham’s Cognitive-Contextual Model; Watkin’s elaborated Control Theory; and the work on posttraumatic growth. Research and clinical implications are discussed in the light of the results.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This article describes the experience and impact of domestic violence on adolescents using qualitative methodology. It explores the meanings that adolescents give to their experiences and how this may relate to the impact of those experiences. Five adolescents who were receiving interventions within child and adolescent mental health services were interviewed about their experiences of domestic violence and the interviews were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The results suggest that adolescents had a range of thoughts and feelings connected to their experiences, and that the impact of the domestic violence may be related to the different meanings that the adolescents gave to their experiences and how they made sense of those experiences. The results are explored using theories such as Grych and Fincham’s Cognitive-Contextual Model; Watkin’s elaborated Control Theory; and the work on posttraumatic growth. Research and clinical implications are discussed in the light of the results.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
young people, domestic violence, traumas, mental health;
Community Mental Health Journal, 57(4), 2021, pp.631-643.
Publisher:
Springer
Intergenerational trauma is a discrete form of trauma which occurs when traumatic effects are passed across generations without exposure to the original event. This qualitative study aimed to explore how psychiatrists understand intergenerational trauma in respect to their practice, for the purposes of identifying interventions for addressing intergenerational trauma in public mental health services. Findings revealed that psychiatrists observe intergenerational trauma frequently in their roles and try to opportunistically promote awareness of trauma with adults, and refer families to external services for supportive interventions. They feel powerless when faced with directly intervening with intergenerational trauma and required restructuring of their roles to adequately address it in public settings. Findings have implications for training, advocacy and research on the relationship between trauma and mental illness. Alongside this, there is an indicated need for examination of how systems can ensure access to appropriate services once organisations become trauma-informed.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Intergenerational trauma is a discrete form of trauma which occurs when traumatic effects are passed across generations without exposure to the original event. This qualitative study aimed to explore how psychiatrists understand intergenerational trauma in respect to their practice, for the purposes of identifying interventions for addressing intergenerational trauma in public mental health services. Findings revealed that psychiatrists observe intergenerational trauma frequently in their roles and try to opportunistically promote awareness of trauma with adults, and refer families to external services for supportive interventions. They feel powerless when faced with directly intervening with intergenerational trauma and required restructuring of their roles to adequately address it in public settings. Findings have implications for training, advocacy and research on the relationship between trauma and mental illness. Alongside this, there is an indicated need for examination of how systems can ensure access to appropriate services once organisations become trauma-informed.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Child and Youth Care Forum, 38(3), June 2009, pp.135-149.
Publisher:
Springer
Trauma exposure has been associated with panic symptoms in adult samples, but little is known about the relationship between trauma and panic in children. Anxiety sensitivity (AS), or the fear of anxiety-related bodily sensations, may help explain the relationship between trauma and panic. To examine relationships among trauma, anxiety sensitivity, and panic symptoms, data were collected from youth in the New Orleans area 5–8 months after Hurricane Katrina (N = 302) and again 17–18 months after the hurricane (N = 110). At time one, AS predicted panic symptoms beyond hurricane exposure. At time two, AS measured at time two predicted panic symptoms beyond AS measured at time one. Clinical implications of the present findings are discussed.
Trauma exposure has been associated with panic symptoms in adult samples, but little is known about the relationship between trauma and panic in children. Anxiety sensitivity (AS), or the fear of anxiety-related bodily sensations, may help explain the relationship between trauma and panic. To examine relationships among trauma, anxiety sensitivity, and panic symptoms, data were collected from youth in the New Orleans area 5–8 months after Hurricane Katrina (N = 302) and again 17–18 months after the hurricane (N = 110). At time one, AS predicted panic symptoms beyond hurricane exposure. At time two, AS measured at time two predicted panic symptoms beyond AS measured at time one. Clinical implications of the present findings are discussed.
Child Abuse and Neglect, 32(10), October 2008, pp.994-1002.
Publisher:
Elsevier
This study had two objectives: to examine the rates of exposure to family violence among students in a non-Western society, with Sri Lanka as a case study and to examine the psychological effects of their exposure. Four hundred seventy six medical students in Sri Lanka were surveyed. A self-administered questionnaire was utilized, which included two forms of the Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS) to measure the extent to which the students witnessed interparental violence and experienced parental violence in childhood and adolescence. Additional instruments included the Trauma Symptom Checklist (TSC-33), which measures dissociation, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance, and the Family Functioning in Adolescence Questionnaire (FFAQ), which measures the students’ perceptions of the functioning and environment in their families. Between 16% and 18% of the participants indicated that they had witnessed at least one act of interparental psychological aggression, and between 2% and 16% indicated that they had witnessed at least one act of interparental physical violence before the age of 18. Between 11% and 84% of the participants had experienced at least one act of parental psychological aggression, and between 2% and 22% had experienced at least one act of parental physical violence during childhood. Significant amounts of the variance in participants’ dissociation, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance were explained by their witnessing interparental violence and experiencing parental violence. The present study provides strong evidence that the rates of family violence in a non-Western society (i.e., Sri Lankan families) are within the range of violence found in Western societies. In addition, the psychological effects of exposure to family violence in non-Western societies are similar to those in Western societies, although the relevance of familial, cultural, and political contexts as well as socio-demographic characteristics to those effects in non-Western societies should be taken into consideration.
This study had two objectives: to examine the rates of exposure to family violence among students in a non-Western society, with Sri Lanka as a case study and to examine the psychological effects of their exposure. Four hundred seventy six medical students in Sri Lanka were surveyed. A self-administered questionnaire was utilized, which included two forms of the Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS) to measure the extent to which the students witnessed interparental violence and experienced parental violence in childhood and adolescence. Additional instruments included the Trauma Symptom Checklist (TSC-33), which measures dissociation, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance, and the Family Functioning in Adolescence Questionnaire (FFAQ), which measures the students’ perceptions of the functioning and environment in their families. Between 16% and 18% of the participants indicated that they had witnessed at least one act of interparental psychological aggression, and between 2% and 16% indicated that they had witnessed at least one act of interparental physical violence before the age of 18. Between 11% and 84% of the participants had experienced at least one act of parental psychological aggression, and between 2% and 22% had experienced at least one act of parental physical violence during childhood. Significant amounts of the variance in participants’ dissociation, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance were explained by their witnessing interparental violence and experiencing parental violence. The present study provides strong evidence that the rates of family violence in a non-Western society (i.e., Sri Lankan families) are within the range of violence found in Western societies. In addition, the psychological effects of exposure to family violence in non-Western societies are similar to those in Western societies, although the relevance of familial, cultural, and political contexts as well as socio-demographic characteristics to those effects in non-Western societies should be taken into consideration.
Subject terms:
mental health, traumas, young people, domestic violence;
Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma, early cite May 2022, pp.1-14.
Publisher:
Springer Nature
... experienced some form of out-of-home care. Conclusions: This study highlights the presence of three distinct trauma classes in the NI adolescent population. In particular, this study identifies a small minority of young people who have experienced multiple CT's, including sexually based traumas, with these traumas most likely to have occurred in the context of out-of-home care and familial poverty.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Methods: Participants were a representative sample of 11-19-year-olds (n = 1293), who participated in the largest ever representative survey of youth mental health in Northern Ireland (NI) - the NI Youth Wellbeing Prevalence Survey 2020. This study used latent class analysis (LCA) to identify typologies that were most representative of trauma experience and co-occurrence among young people living in NI. Demographic, parental and deprivation variables were then used within a multinomial logistic regression analysis to describe trauma class membership. Results: Over 35% (n = 478) of participants reported exposure to at least one CT, with over 50% (n = 259) of trauma-exposed young people reporting multiple trauma exposure. LCA results provided support for a three-class model; 'low-exposure', 'moderate-exposure: community-victimization' and 'high-exposure: sexual-trauma'. While none of the child, parental or familial covariates differentiated members of the 'moderate-exposure: community-victimization' from 'low-exposure', those in 'high-exposure: sexual-trauma' were over four and a half times more likely to belong to a family in receipt of income benefits and over ten times more likely to have experienced some form of out-of-home care. Conclusions: This study highlights the presence of three distinct trauma classes in the NI adolescent population. In particular, this study identifies a small minority of young people who have experienced multiple CT's, including sexually based traumas, with these traumas most likely to have occurred in the context of out-of-home care and familial poverty.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
traumas, adverse childhood experiences, young people, mental health, surveys;
Researcher, clinical professional and lay understandings of the meaning of trauma may differ. An awareness of older people's perspectives on trauma may be important, given the potential for historical and cultural features to shape how the term is conceptualised among this group, thereby influencing related help-seeking behaviour. Older people living in Essex, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk were interviewed about their perceptions of the term, as was a group of mental health professionals who work with the elderly. Forty-two older adults (aged 67–91) took part in six focus groups (ranging from four to nine members). Twenty-eight were females, 14 were males, all were white British. Many older people regarded significant adversity as just part of life, with collectively understood methods of avoidance or limited support-seeking pointing to emotional management through non-disclosure. This position seemed further informed by views that disclosure may be self-indulgent, which is in stark contrast to the historical and cultural background in which many older people were raised. The professionals also suggested that some older people may be unused to expressing their emotions. The concept of trauma seems to be relative, with stigma and shame appearing to influence the way that responses to adversity are managed by this age group. It is concluded that focused history taking by clinicians may be needed to help elicit symptoms of trauma among elderly patients, while at the same time services might engage in a compassionate dialogue to encourage those suffering in silence to seek help.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Researcher, clinical professional and lay understandings of the meaning of trauma may differ. An awareness of older people's perspectives on trauma may be important, given the potential for historical and cultural features to shape how the term is conceptualised among this group, thereby influencing related help-seeking behaviour. Older people living in Essex, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk were interviewed about their perceptions of the term, as was a group of mental health professionals who work with the elderly. Forty-two older adults (aged 67–91) took part in six focus groups (ranging from four to nine members). Twenty-eight were females, 14 were males, all were white British. Many older people regarded significant adversity as just part of life, with collectively understood methods of avoidance or limited support-seeking pointing to emotional management through non-disclosure. This position seemed further informed by views that disclosure may be self-indulgent, which is in stark contrast to the historical and cultural background in which many older people were raised. The professionals also suggested that some older people may be unused to expressing their emotions. The concept of trauma seems to be relative, with stigma and shame appearing to influence the way that responses to adversity are managed by this age group. It is concluded that focused history taking by clinicians may be needed to help elicit symptoms of trauma among elderly patients, while at the same time services might engage in a compassionate dialogue to encourage those suffering in silence to seek help.
(Edited publisher abstract)
International Journal of Migration Health and Social Care, 7(1), 2011, pp.44-57.
Publisher:
Emerald
This article explores the development of a unique, grassroots, community-based therapeutic intervention organisation, Nah We Yone (NWY) in New York City. NWY is specifically designed to provide support to African refugees and asylum seekers, with a history of refugee trauma, war, and human rights abuses, who have fled to the New York City area. The article reviews the background to NWY, the challenges it faced, and the services available. It presents the rationale for developing this type of organisation, specific programmes designed to promote well-being, and various challenges faced and lessons learned, while offering an alternate type of therapeutic intervention. The authors suggest that NWY demonstrates the importance of drawing on cultural and community strengths and resilience when using limited resources to serve traumatised and displaced peoples who are struggling to adjust to a new cultural setting. Implications for similar programmes are presented.
This article explores the development of a unique, grassroots, community-based therapeutic intervention organisation, Nah We Yone (NWY) in New York City. NWY is specifically designed to provide support to African refugees and asylum seekers, with a history of refugee trauma, war, and human rights abuses, who have fled to the New York City area. The article reviews the background to NWY, the challenges it faced, and the services available. It presents the rationale for developing this type of organisation, specific programmes designed to promote well-being, and various challenges faced and lessons learned, while offering an alternate type of therapeutic intervention. The authors suggest that NWY demonstrates the importance of drawing on cultural and community strengths and resilience when using limited resources to serve traumatised and displaced peoples who are struggling to adjust to a new cultural setting. Implications for similar programmes are presented.
This paper uses the principles of trauma-informed care – safety, collaboration, choice, trustworthiness, and respect – to reflect on the quality of veterans’ treatment within the UK social security system. Drawing upon new data from qualitative longitudinal research with veterans in four geographical locations across England, UK, it explores their experiences within the social security system, highlighting specific issues relating to their interactions with the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) but also the conditionality inherent within the UK benefits system. Overall, it is evident that there is a lack of understanding of the impact of trauma on people’s psychosocial functioning and, as a result, veterans are treated in ways which are variously perceived as disrespectful, unfair or disempowering and in some cases exacerbate existing mental health problems. We propose that the application of trauma-informed care principles to the UK social security system could improve interactions within this system and avoid re-traumatising those experiencing on-going or unresolved trauma. The paradigm of trauma-informed care has been used internationally to examine health, homelessness, prison and childcare services, but ours is the first exploration of its application to the delivery of social security.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This paper uses the principles of trauma-informed care – safety, collaboration, choice, trustworthiness, and respect – to reflect on the quality of veterans’ treatment within the UK social security system. Drawing upon new data from qualitative longitudinal research with veterans in four geographical locations across England, UK, it explores their experiences within the social security system, highlighting specific issues relating to their interactions with the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) but also the conditionality inherent within the UK benefits system. Overall, it is evident that there is a lack of understanding of the impact of trauma on people’s psychosocial functioning and, as a result, veterans are treated in ways which are variously perceived as disrespectful, unfair or disempowering and in some cases exacerbate existing mental health problems. We propose that the application of trauma-informed care principles to the UK social security system could improve interactions within this system and avoid re-traumatising those experiencing on-going or unresolved trauma. The paradigm of trauma-informed care has been used internationally to examine health, homelessness, prison and childcare services, but ours is the first exploration of its application to the delivery of social security.
(Edited publisher abstract)