Victimisation and PTSD in a Greenlandic Youth sample

• Published in: International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Main Authors: Karsberg, Sidsel, Lasgaard, Mathias, Elklit, Ask
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Adolescence; Traumatic Exposure; Cross-cultural Research; Greenland; Circumpolar Health; greenlandic; International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Online Access: https://portal.findresearcher.sdu.dk/da/publications/e1129540-da21-4fa4-ae8e-cb809a90c1eb; https://doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v71i0.18378; https://findresearcher.sdu.dk/ws/files/78138171/posterbologna2.pptx

Background: Despite a growing number of studies and reports indicating a very high and increasing prevalence of trauma-exposure in Greenlandic adolescents the knowledge on this subject is still very limited. Methods: In a Greenlandic sample from four different schools in two different minor towns in Northern Greenland, 269 students, aged 12 to 18 (M=15.4; SD=1.84) were assessed for their level of exposure to 20 Potentially Traumatic Events (PTEs) along with the psychological impact of these events. Results: Of the Greenlandic students, 86% had been directly exposed to at least one PTE and 74.3% had been indirectly exposed to at least one PTE. The mean number of directly experienced PTEs was 2.8 and the mean number of indirectly experienced PTEs was 3.9. The most frequent direct events recorded were: death of someone close, near drowning, threatened to be beaten, humiliation or persecution by others, and attempted suicide. The estimated lifetime prevalence of PTSD was 17.1%, whereas another 14.2% reached a subclinical level of PTSD (missing the full diagnosis by one symptom). Following exposure, girls were three times more likely to suffer from PTSD compared to boys. Education level of the father, type of school, living in a single parent household, and being exposed to multiple direct and indirect PTEs was significantly associated with an increase in PTSD symptoms. Conclusion: The findings indicate that various types of PTE’s which Greenlandic adolescents are exposed to, have the potential to result in substantial mental health problems. Furthermore, the findings indicate that Greenlandic adolescents are more exposed to certain specific PTEs than adolescents in similar studies from other nations. The present study revealed that Greenlandic girls are particularly vulnerable towards experiencing PTE’S. Indeed, in general, girls reported more experiences of direct and indirect PTEs. Furthermore, girls reported being more commonly exposed to specific types of PTE’s compared to boys.