Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-4hhp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-05T04:22:50.744Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The relation between coping, social support and psychological and somatic symptoms among torture survivors in Nepal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2002

J. EMMELKAMP ,
I. H. KOMPROE ,
M. VAN OMMEREN  and
S. SCHAGEN
J. EMMELKAMP
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam and Transcultural Psychosocial Organization, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
I. H. KOMPROE
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam and Transcultural Psychosocial Organization, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
M. VAN OMMEREN
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam and Transcultural Psychosocial Organization, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
S. SCHAGEN
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam and Transcultural Psychosocial Organization, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background. Little is known about the relation between coping, social support, and psychological and somatic symptoms among survivors of torture living outside the West.

Method. In a population-based dataset of 315 tortured Bhutanese refugees, univariate and multivariate relationships between coping and social support and symptoms were estimated. These relationships were verified in a second sample of 57 help-seeking Nepalese torture survivors.

Results. A relationship was observed between the total number of coping strategies used and anxiety and depression. Negative coping, in contrast to positive coping, was related to all symptom outcome measures. Received social support was stronger related to symptoms than perceived social support. The findings from the first sample were replicated in the second sample.

Conclusion. We found hypothesized relationships between coping, social support, and psychological and somatic symptoms among survivors of torture living in Nepal. The findings from this study confirm the importance of understanding specific types of coping and social support to develop intervention programmes for torture survivors in Non-western settings.

Type
Brief Communication
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 32 , Issue 8 , November 2002 , pp. 1465 - 1470
Copyright
© 2002 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)