Dynamics of Traumatic Stress, PTSD, and Family Violence among Families Displaced by war in Gulu, Northern Uganda

Abstract This study examined the interrelationship of Traumatic Stress (war violence), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and family violence among families displaced by armed conflict into Internally Displaced Persons... [ view full abstract ]

Abstract
This study examined the interrelationship of Traumatic Stress (war violence), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and family violence among families displaced by armed conflict into Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Uganda.
The Objectives
i. To compare the level of family violence and PTSD between formally abducted and non- formally abducted adolescents
ii. To identify the possible risk factors of child maltreatment among the war affected families
Methods
Interviews with 300 individuals, consisting of 100 children of 12 to 17 years age range and having both their parents, were conducted from households selected through systematic radom sapling.
Results
Indicated an extremely high level of traumatic events and family violence experiences with formally abducted adolescents experiencing higher events, and PTSD than their non-abducted counterparts. The results further revealed that the traumatic experience of the adolescent, the experience of family violence by the adolescent, and the degree of PTSD symptom severity of the mothers significantly associated with the PTSD among the adolescents. Further, the traumatic experiences of the adolescent and the traumatic experience of the father predicted family violence against the adolescents.
Conclusion
The authors concluded that the interaction between mental health disorder symptoms of the mother and the PTSD symptom severity with adolescents’ mental health and family wellbeing suggest a transmission of aversive experiences of mass violence within the family. Consequently, clinicians and Psycho-social support teams should look beyond the individual in their interventions.