The epidemiology of traumatic event exposure worldwide: results from the World Mental Health Survey Consortium.

Corina Benjet, Victoria Shahly, Karestan Koenen, Ayelet Meron Ruscio, Evelyn Bromet , Kate McLaughlin, B Bunting, Ronald Kessler

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

735 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the predictors or distribution of trauma exposure worldwide, especially in developing countries.
Aims: To examine the prevalence, age of exposure, and socio-demographic correlates of trauma exposure as well as associations among traumatic events.
Method: General population surveys were conducted in 24 countries. Twenty-nine trauma types were assessed in 68,894 adults. Survival models examined socio-demographic characteristics and prior trauma as predictors of subsequent trauma exposure.
Results: Over 70% reported a traumatic event. Five trauma types accounted for over half of all instances of trauma exposure. Trauma exposure varied by country, socio-demographic characteristics, and history of prior trauma exposure.
Conclusions: Prevention should target those at risk for multiple traumas or traumas that have particularly large or enduring effects on health. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms that account for the associations of prior trauma with subsequent trauma in order to develop interventions to prevent revictimization.
Original languageEnglish
Pages327-343
Number of pages16
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - Jan 2016

Keywords

  • Disasters
  • epidemiology
  • injury
  • revictimization
  • trauma
  • violence

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