Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2010

Open Access 01-12-2010 | Research article

Social influences on mental health help-seeking after interpersonal traumatization: a qualitative analysis

Authors: Viola Schreiber, Andreas Maercker, Babette Renneberg

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2010

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Despite frequent and serious mental health problems after interpersonal traumatization, only a fraction of those affected by interpersonal violence seek formal help after the event. Reasons for this mismatch can be found in the individual help-seeking process but also in the individual's social environment. These social factors are explored based on a model describing the survivor's help-seeking process.

Method

Survivors of interpersonal traumatization and professionals providing help for this population were asked about factors influencing the ease of seeking and receiving professional help after interpersonal traumatization. A deductive and inductive content analysis of the experiences of 43 survivors of interpersonal traumatization and 16 professionals providing help for this population was carried out.

Results

The analysis suggested a clear distinction of an individual and a social system level of influencing variables. At the system level three main factors were identified: factors of the help-system, dominant attitudes in society and public knowledge about traumatization and available help.

Conclusions

The results confirmed a complex interaction of variables on the individual and system level in the help-seeking process. The system level affects the individual's help-seeking through multiple pathways, especially through the individual's representation of the traumatization, through the reactions of the individual's social network and through barriers the individual perceives or experiences in the formal help-system.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Breslau N, Kessler RC, Chilcoat HD, Schultz LR, Davis GC, Andreski P: Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder in the community: The 1996 Detroit area survey of trauma. Archives of General Psychiatry. 1998, 55: 626-632. 10.1001/archpsyc.55.7.626.CrossRefPubMed
2.
de Jong JTVM, Komproe IH, Van Ommeren M, El Masri M, Araya M, Khaled N, van de Put W, Somasundaram D: Lifetime events and posttraumatic stress disorder in 4 postconflict settings. The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2001, 286: 555-562. 10.1001/jama.286.5.555.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Frans Ö, Rimmö PA, Åberg L, Frederikson M: Trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder in the general population. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 2005, 111: 291-299. 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2004.00463.x.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Kessler RC, Sonnega A, Bromet E, Hughes M, Nelson CB: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the National Comorbidity Survey. Archives of General Psychiatry. 1995, 52: 1048-1060.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Maercker A, Forstmeier S, Wagner B, Glaesmer H, Brähler E: Posttraumatische Belastungsstörungen in Deutschland: Ergebnisse einer gesamtdeutschen epidemiologischen Untersuchung. Nervenarzt. 2008, 79: 577-589. 10.1007/s00115-008-2467-5.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Abel EM: Comparing the social sevice utilisation, exposure to violence, and trauma symptomology of domestic violence female "victims" and female "batterers". Journal of Family Violence. 2001, 16: 401-420. 10.1023/A:1012276927091.CrossRef
7.
Kilpatrick DG, Resnick HS: ttraumatic stress disorder associated with exposure to criminal victimization in clinical and community populations. Posttraumatic stress disorder: DSM-IV and beyond. Edited by: Davidson JRT, Foa EB. 1993, Washington: American Psychiatric Press, 113-143. pp. 113-143
8.
Kilpatrick DG, Ruggiero KJ, Acierno R, Saunders BE, Resick HS, Best CL: Violence and risk of PTSD, major depression, substance abuse/dependence, and comorbidity: Results from the national survey of adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 2003, 71: 692-700. 10.1037/0022-006X.71.4.692.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Norris FH, Kaniasy K: Psychological distress following criminal victimization in the general population: Cross-sectional, longitudinal, and prospective analyses. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1994, 62: 111-123. 10.1037/0022-006X.62.1.111.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Riggs DS, Rothbaum BO, Foa EB: A prospective examination of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in victims of nonsexual assault. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 1995, 10: 201-214. 10.1177/0886260595010002005.CrossRef
11.
Alonso J, Angermeyer MC, Bernert S, Bruffaerts R, Brugha TS, Bryson H, de Girolamo G, de Graf R, Demyttenaere K, Gasquet I, et al: Disability and quality of life impact of mental disorders in Europe: results from the European Study of the Epidemiology of Mental Disorders (ESEMeD) project. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 2004, 109: 38-46. 10.1111/j.1600-0047.2004.00325.x.CrossRef
12.
Amaya-Jackson L, Davidson JRT, Hughes DC, Swartz M, Reynolds V, George LK, Blazer DG: Functional impairment and utilization of services associated with posttraumatic stress in the community. Journal of Traumatic Stress. 1999, 12: 709-724. 10.1023/A:1024781504756.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Breslau N, Lucia VC, Davis GC: Partial PTSD versus full PTSD: An empirical examination of associated impairment. Psychological Medicine. 2004, 34: 1205-1214. 10.1017/S0033291704002594.CrossRefPubMed
14.
d'Ardenne P, Capuzzo N, Fakhoury WKH, Jankovic-Gavrilovic J, Pribe S: Subjective Quality of Life and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 2005, 193: 62-65. 10.1097/01.nmd.0000149221.09294.92.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Seville JL, Ahles TA, Wasson JH, Deborah J, Callahan E, Stukel T: Ongoing distress from emotional trauma is related to pain, mood, and physical functioning in a primary care population. Journal of Pain & Symptom Management. 2003, 25: 256-263.CrossRef
16.
Zatzick DF, Marmar CR, Weiss DS, Browner WS, Metzler TJ, Golding JM, Stewart A, Schlenger WE, Wells KB: Posttraumatic stress disorder and functioning and quality of life outcomes in a nationally representative sample of male vietnam veterans. American Journal of Psychiatry. 1997, 154: 1690-1695.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Freedy JR, Resnick HS, Kilpatrick DG, Dansky BS, Tidwell RP: The psychological adjustment of recent crime victims in the criminal justice system. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 1994, 9: 450-468. 10.1177/088626094009004002.CrossRef
18.
Fugate M, Landis L, Riordan K, Naureckas S, Engel B: Barriers to domestic violence help seeking. Violence against women. 2005, 11: 290-310. 10.1177/1077801204271959.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Golding JM, Stein JA, Siegel JM, Burnam MA, Sorenson SB: Sexual assault history and use of health and mental health services. American Journal of Community Psychology. 1988, 16: 625-644. 10.1007/BF00930018.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Mahoney P: High rape chronicity and low rates of help-seeking among wife rape survivors in a nonclinical sample. Violence Against Women. 1999, 5: 993-1016. 10.1177/10778019922181590.CrossRef
21.
Norris FH, Kaniasty KZ, Scheer DA: Use of mental health service among victims of crime: Frequency, correlates, and subsequent recovery. Journal of Consulting and Clincial Psychology. 1990, 58: 538-547. 10.1037/0022-006X.58.5.538.CrossRef
22.
Müller U, Schröttle M, Glammeier S, Oppenheimer C: Lebenssituation, Sicherheit und Gesundheit von Frauen in Deutschland. Eine repräsentative Studie zu Gewalt gegen Frauen in Deutschland. Book Lebenssituation, Sicherheit und Gesundheit von Frauen in Deutschland. Eine repräsentative Studie zu Gewalt gegen Frauen in Deutschland. 2004, City: Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, 1-317. pp. 1-317
23.
Schreiber V, Renneberg B, Maercker A: Seeking psychosocial care after interpersonal violence: An integrative model. Violence and Victims. 2009, 24: 322-336. 10.1891/0886-6708.24.3.322.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Hsieh H, Shannon SE: Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qualitative Reseach Journal. 2005, 15: 1277-1288. 10.1177/1049732305276687.
25.
Mayring P: Qualtitative content analysis. Forum: Qualtiative Social Research. 2000, 1:
26.
Crabtree BF, Miller WL: Using codes and code manuals. Doing qualitative research. Edited by: Miller WL. 1999, Newbury Parl, CA: Sage, 163-178. pp. 163-178
27.
Addison RB: A grounded hermeneutic editing approach. Doing qualitative research. Edited by: Miller WL. 1999, Newbury Parl, CA: Sage, 145-162. pp. 145-162
28.
Lebowitz L, Roth S: "I felt like a slut": The cultural context and women's response to being raped. Journal of Traumatic Stress. 1994, 7: 163-190. 10.1002/jts.2490070304.CrossRef
29.
Tummala-Narra P: Conceptualizing trauma and resilience across diverse contexts: A multicultural perspective. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma. 2007, 14: 33-53.CrossRef
30.
Harvey MR: Towards an ecological understanding of resilience in trauma survivors: Implications for theory, research and practice. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma. 2007, 14: 9-32. 10.1300/J146v14n01_02.CrossRef
31.
Ruback RB, Gupta D, Kohli N: Normative standards for crime victims: Implications for research and policy. Psychology Developing Societies. 2004, 16: 61-75. 10.1177/097133360401600104.CrossRef
32.
Steury S, Spencer S, Parkinson GW: The social context of recovery: Commentary on "A national longitudinal study of the psychological consequences of the september 11, 2001 terrorist attacks: Reactions, impairment, and held-seeking". Psychiatry. 2004, 67: 158-163.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Tsun-Yin L: "Marrying my rapist?!" The cultural trauma among chinese rape survivors. Gender & Socienty. 2000, 14: 581-597.CrossRef
34.
Meltzer H, Bebbington P, Brugha T, Farrwll M, Jenkins R, Lewis G: The reluctance to seek treatment for neurotic disorders. Journal of Mental Health. 2000, 9: 319-327. 10.1080/713680243.CrossRef
35.
Thompson A, Hunt C, Issakidis C: Why wait? Reasons for delay and prompts to seek help for mental health problems in an Australian clinical sample. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemilogy. 2004, 38: 810-817.CrossRef
36.
Jaycox LH, Marshall GN, Schell T: Use of mental health services by men injured through community violence. Psychiatric Services. 2004, 55: 415-420. 10.1176/appi.ps.55.4.415.CrossRefPubMed
37.
Mol SSL, Dinant GJ, Vilters-van Montfort PAP, Metsemakers JFM, van den Akker M, Arntz A, Knottnerus JA: Traumatic events in a general practice population: the patients perspective. Family Practice. 2002, 19: 390-396. 10.1093/fampra/19.4.390.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Rodríguez MA, Sheldon WR, Bauer HM, Pérez-Stable MD: The factors associated with disclosure of intimate partner abuse to clinicians. The Journal of Family Practice. 2001, 50: 338-344.PubMed
39.
Munro CG, Freeman CP, Law R: General practitioners' knowledge of post-traumatic stress disorder: a controlled study. British Journal of General Practice. 2004, 54: 843-847.PubMedPubMedCentral
40.
Reid SA, Glasser M: Primary care physicians' recognition of and attitudes toward domestic violence. Academic Medicine. 1997, 72: 51-53. 10.1097/00001888-199710001-00018.CrossRefPubMed
41.
Sugg NK, Inui T: Primary care physicians' response to domestic violence. Opening Pandora's box. The Journal of the American Medical Association. 1992, 23: 3157-3160. 10.1001/jama.267.23.3157.CrossRef
42.
Davidson JR: Recognition and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2001, 286: 584-588. 10.1001/jama.286.5.584.CrossRefPubMed
43.
Kimerling R, Calhoun KS: Somatic symptoms, social support, and treatment seeking among sexual assault victims. Journal of Consulting and Clincial Psychology. 1994, 62: 333-340. 10.1037/0022-006X.62.2.333.CrossRef
44.
Solomon SD, Davidson JR: Trauma: prevalence, impairment, service use, and cost. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 1997, 58: 5-11.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Stein MB, McQuaid J, Pedrelli P, Lenox R, McCahill ME: Posttraumatic stress disorder in the primary care medical setting. General Hospital Psychiatry. 2000, 22: 261-269. 10.1016/S0163-8343(00)00080-3.CrossRefPubMed
46.
Frueh BC, Cusack KJ, Hiers TG, Monogan S, Cousins VC, Cavenaugh SD: Improving public mental health services for trauma victims in South Carolina. Psychiatric Services. 2001, 52: 812-814. 10.1176/appi.ps.52.6.812.CrossRefPubMed
47.
García-Moreno C: Dilemas and opportunities for an appropriate health-service response to violence against women. Lancet. 2002, 359: 1509-1514. 10.1016/S0140-6736(02)08417-9.CrossRefPubMed
48.
Adshead G: The psychiatrist's view Preventing violent crime is not a medical role. British Medical Journal. 1995, 311: 1619-20.CrossRefPubMedCentral
49.
Cusack KJ, Frueh BC, Kathleen TB: Trauma history screening in a community mental health center. Psychiatric Services. 2004, 55: 157-162. 10.1176/appi.ps.55.2.157.CrossRefPubMed
50.
Lecrubier Y: Posttraumatic stress disorder in primary care: A hidden diagnosis. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2005, 65: 49-54.
51.
Magruder KM, Mollica R, Friedman M: Mental health service research: Implications for survivors of torture. The mental health consequences of torture. Edited by: Gerrity E, Keane TM, Tuma F. 2001, New York: Kuwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 291-307. pp. 291-307CrossRef
52.
van Zelst WH, de Beurs E, Beekman ATF, van Dyck R, Deeg DDH: Well-being, physical functioning, and use of health services in the elderly with PTSD and subthreshold PTSD. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2006, 21: 180-188. 10.1002/gps.1448.CrossRefPubMed
53.
Frueh BC, Cousins VC, Hiers TG, Cavenaugh SD, Cusack KJ, Santos AB: The need for trauma assessment and related clinical services in a state-funded mental health system. Community Mental Health Journal. 2002, 38: 351-356. 10.1023/A:1015909611028.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Social influences on mental health help-seeking after interpersonal traumatization: a qualitative analysis
Authors
Viola Schreiber
Andreas Maercker
Babette Renneberg
Publication date
01-12-2010
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2010
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-634

Other articles of this Issue 1/2010

BMC Public Health 1/2010 Go to the issue

Research article

Utilization of delivery care among rural women in china: does the health insurance make a difference? a cross-sectional study

Research article

Household food insecurity and symptoms of neurologic disorder in Ethiopia: An observational analysis

Study protocol

Evaluation design for a complex intervention program targeting loneliness in non-institutionalized elderly Dutch people

Study protocol

Multi-centred mixed-methods PEPFAR HIV care & support public health evaluation: study protocol

Study protocol

Early detection and counselling intervention of asthma symptoms in preschool children: study design of a cluster randomised controlled trial

Research article

Behavioural intentions in response to an influenza pandemic