Effects of potential traumatic events (PTE) contributing to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) six years after cessation of war among populations in northern Sri Lanka: An analysis of a follow-up study from a nationwide sample

The study aims were firstly to identify potential traumatic events (PTE) and stressors faced by the population in the districts of Northern Sri Lanka exposed to the decades-long conflict and secondly to predict Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) based on conceptually derived composites of the PTE...

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Main Authors: Rohan Jayasuriya, Shehan Williams, Ruwanthi Perera, Pavithra Godamunne, Rajitha Wickremasinghe, Alvin Kuowei Tay
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:SSM - Mental Health
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666560325000246
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author Rohan Jayasuriya
Shehan Williams
Ruwanthi Perera
Pavithra Godamunne
Rajitha Wickremasinghe
Alvin Kuowei Tay
author_facet Rohan Jayasuriya
Shehan Williams
Ruwanthi Perera
Pavithra Godamunne
Rajitha Wickremasinghe
Alvin Kuowei Tay
author_sort Rohan Jayasuriya
collection DOAJ
description The study aims were firstly to identify potential traumatic events (PTE) and stressors faced by the population in the districts of Northern Sri Lanka exposed to the decades-long conflict and secondly to predict Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) based on conceptually derived composites of the PTE. https://www.editorialmanager.com/SSMMH/Data for this study were collected in 2015. The sample consisted of 1526 individuals in northern Sri Lanka who were all exposed to the prolonged war and who had all previously participated in a baseline study in 2014. Four composites of PTEs were identified: extreme violence; traumatic losses; exposure to conflict and ongoing stressors. The data were analyzed using path analysis and mediation models. The results revealed that these stressors explained 40% of the variance in PTSD. The direct path from “extreme violence” had the highest effect on PTSD, even six years after exposure. Mediation analysis identified that ongoing stressors mediated the relationship of exposure to conflict with PTSD, lending support to the “daily stressors” model among internally displaced persons (IDPs). The results suggest that early specific intervention will benefit those exposed to extreme violence and broader Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) approaches for ongoing stressors to reduce mental distress of this population.
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publishDate 2025-06-01
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series SSM - Mental Health
spelling doaj-art-11441a1d6d614f4c8a8ec9f028e41f422025-08-20T03:45:08ZengElsevierSSM - Mental Health2666-56032025-06-01710041210.1016/j.ssmmh.2025.100412Effects of potential traumatic events (PTE) contributing to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) six years after cessation of war among populations in northern Sri Lanka: An analysis of a follow-up study from a nationwide sampleRohan Jayasuriya0Shehan Williams1Ruwanthi Perera2Pavithra Godamunne3Rajitha Wickremasinghe4Alvin Kuowei Tay5School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka; Corresponding author. School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, NSW, 2522, Australia.Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri LankaDepartment of Rogavijnana, Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, Sri LankaDepartment of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri LankaDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri LankaDiscipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, AustraliaThe study aims were firstly to identify potential traumatic events (PTE) and stressors faced by the population in the districts of Northern Sri Lanka exposed to the decades-long conflict and secondly to predict Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) based on conceptually derived composites of the PTE. https://www.editorialmanager.com/SSMMH/Data for this study were collected in 2015. The sample consisted of 1526 individuals in northern Sri Lanka who were all exposed to the prolonged war and who had all previously participated in a baseline study in 2014. Four composites of PTEs were identified: extreme violence; traumatic losses; exposure to conflict and ongoing stressors. The data were analyzed using path analysis and mediation models. The results revealed that these stressors explained 40% of the variance in PTSD. The direct path from “extreme violence” had the highest effect on PTSD, even six years after exposure. Mediation analysis identified that ongoing stressors mediated the relationship of exposure to conflict with PTSD, lending support to the “daily stressors” model among internally displaced persons (IDPs). The results suggest that early specific intervention will benefit those exposed to extreme violence and broader Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) approaches for ongoing stressors to reduce mental distress of this population.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666560325000246Post conflictDaily stressorsPost traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)Sri LankaPotential Trauma events (PTE)
spellingShingle Rohan Jayasuriya
Shehan Williams
Ruwanthi Perera
Pavithra Godamunne
Rajitha Wickremasinghe
Alvin Kuowei Tay
Effects of potential traumatic events (PTE) contributing to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) six years after cessation of war among populations in northern Sri Lanka: An analysis of a follow-up study from a nationwide sample
SSM - Mental Health
Post conflict
Daily stressors
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Sri Lanka
Potential Trauma events (PTE)
title Effects of potential traumatic events (PTE) contributing to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) six years after cessation of war among populations in northern Sri Lanka: An analysis of a follow-up study from a nationwide sample
title_full Effects of potential traumatic events (PTE) contributing to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) six years after cessation of war among populations in northern Sri Lanka: An analysis of a follow-up study from a nationwide sample
title_fullStr Effects of potential traumatic events (PTE) contributing to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) six years after cessation of war among populations in northern Sri Lanka: An analysis of a follow-up study from a nationwide sample
title_full_unstemmed Effects of potential traumatic events (PTE) contributing to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) six years after cessation of war among populations in northern Sri Lanka: An analysis of a follow-up study from a nationwide sample
title_short Effects of potential traumatic events (PTE) contributing to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) six years after cessation of war among populations in northern Sri Lanka: An analysis of a follow-up study from a nationwide sample
title_sort effects of potential traumatic events pte contributing to post traumatic stress disorder ptsd six years after cessation of war among populations in northern sri lanka an analysis of a follow up study from a nationwide sample
topic Post conflict
Daily stressors
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Sri Lanka
Potential Trauma events (PTE)
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666560325000246
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