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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Jennifer Ahern, MPH1, William G Fernandez, MD2, Sandro Galea, MD, MPH1, Bajram Koci, MD3, Ronald Waldman, MD4, and David Vlahov, PhD1. (1) Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, New York City, NY 10029, 212.822.7207, jahern@nyam.org, (2) Division of Emergency Medicine, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, 600 West 168th Street, New York City, NY 10032, (3) Department of Emergency Care, University of Pristina Medical Center, University of Pristina, c/o Columbia-Presbyterian Division of Emergency Medicine, New York, NY 10032, (4) Joseph LMailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, Columbia University, 600 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032
BACKGROUND Social ties, including social networks and social supports, have been shown to play a positive role in mental health. We were interested in the relation between social support and post-traumatic symptoms in the post-war situation.
METHODS We used data from the Kosovo Emergency Department (ED) Study, conducted in August 2001 in the ED of the University of Pristina Medical Center. Data was collected on every sixth non-acute patient presenting to the Emergency Department of the University of Pristina Medical Center during the day. Response rate was 87.7%. All respondents completed a structured questionnaire including demographics, a modified social support scale, and the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ).
RESULTS. All 306 respondents were Kosovar Albanians. Overall, mean age was 39.0 (SD=17.9). 296 (97.4%) of respondents witnessed at least one traumatic event and 274 (89.5%) had experienced at least one trauma symptom. In multivariable models adjusting for demographic factors and trauma-event experience, social support was associated with lower HTQ trauma symptom score (p=0.02). There was a significant statistical interaction (p=0.03) between gender of respondent and social support. Female respondents with low social support had a higher predicted trauma score (2.2; 95% CI=1.8-2.5) than those with high social support (1.4; 95% CI=1.2-1.7). There was no relation between social support and trauma symptoms among male respondents.
CONCLUSIONS Social support plays an important role in determining mental health in the post-conflict situation; this is more important among women. Mental health interventions in post-conflict situations should identify, and assist, persons with limited social supports.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: War, Well-Being
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.