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Traumatic experiencing and post traumatic psychological symptoms in South African University students
1Department of Psychology, University of the North, South Africa. PeltzerK@unin.unorth.ac.za
Objectives:
Traumatized and nontraumatized subjects were compared on post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, depression and anxiety. In addition, gender differences, socio-economic and family background were studied.
Design:
Cross sectional.
Setting:
University of the North.
Subjects:
All first year African psychology students comprising of 82 (31%) male and 180 (69%) females in the age range 17 to 25 years (mean age 20.7 years, SD = 2.3).
Main Outcome Measures:
The Impact of Event Scale (IES), the 35 item civilian version of the Mississippi Scale for PTSD, and the 42 item Symptom Rating Scale for Depression and Anxiety.
Results:
Results indicated a high life time prevalence of traumatic events (56% of the students). Males were significantly more likely than females to be in an accident (26.8% vs 11.7%, p = 0.004). Females were more likely than males to have experienced an unexpected death of a significant other (27.8% vs 11.0%, p = 0.003) and to have been raped (6.0% vs 0%, p = 0.021). There was a significant positive relationship between exposure to traumatic events and post traumatic stress symptoms. Melancholia and anxiety were both significantly related with PTSD measures indicating comorbidity. Thirty two (12%) fulfilled the criteria for PTSD according to the Mississippi Scale for PTSD.
Conclusion:
A high incidence of traumatic events and PTSD symptoms associated with melancholia and anxiety was found in a nonclinical first year university student population indicating a need for trauma intervention.