Abstract
Objectives: To determine whether exposure to war-related trauma during childhood predicted posttraumatic stress, self-reported health, sleep, and obesity in adulthood, and whether psychological distress mediated the relationships. Methods: We assessed 151 Kuwaiti boys and girls aged 9 to 12 years in 1993 to determine their level of exposure to war-related trauma during the Iraqi occupation and Gulf war, health complaints, and psychological distress. In 2003, 120 (79%) of the initial participants reported on their posttraumatic stress, general health, body mass index (BMI), and sleep quality. We tested a structural model where exposure to war-related trauma predicted psychological distress and health complaints 2 years after the war, and posttraumatic stress, self-reported health, BMI, and sleep quality and duration 10 years later, controlling for intermediary life events. We also tested effects of exposure to war-related trauma on self-reported health and sleep factors mediated by psychological distress. Results: Results indicated a direct effect of exposure on poor sleep quality and BMI. Exposure also predicted poor sleep quality through its association with concurrent posttraumatic stress. The effect of exposure on self-reported health was mediated by health complaints and psychological distress, which included symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress. Conclusion: Exposure to war-related events during childhood is associated with posttraumatic stress, poor sleep quality, high BMI, and poor self-reported health in adulthood.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 776-783 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Psychosomatic Medicine |
| Volume | 71 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 1 2009 |
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Keywords
- Children
- Health related
- Posttraumatic stress
- War-related trauma
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Applied Psychology
Cite this
War-related exposure and psychological distress As predictors of health and sleep : A longitudinal study of Kuwaiti children. / Llabre, Maria; Hadi, Fawzyiah.
In: Psychosomatic Medicine, Vol. 71, No. 7, 01.09.2009, p. 776-783.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - War-related exposure and psychological distress As predictors of health and sleep
T2 - A longitudinal study of Kuwaiti children
AU - Llabre, Maria
AU - Hadi, Fawzyiah
PY - 2009/9/1
Y1 - 2009/9/1
N2 - Objectives: To determine whether exposure to war-related trauma during childhood predicted posttraumatic stress, self-reported health, sleep, and obesity in adulthood, and whether psychological distress mediated the relationships. Methods: We assessed 151 Kuwaiti boys and girls aged 9 to 12 years in 1993 to determine their level of exposure to war-related trauma during the Iraqi occupation and Gulf war, health complaints, and psychological distress. In 2003, 120 (79%) of the initial participants reported on their posttraumatic stress, general health, body mass index (BMI), and sleep quality. We tested a structural model where exposure to war-related trauma predicted psychological distress and health complaints 2 years after the war, and posttraumatic stress, self-reported health, BMI, and sleep quality and duration 10 years later, controlling for intermediary life events. We also tested effects of exposure to war-related trauma on self-reported health and sleep factors mediated by psychological distress. Results: Results indicated a direct effect of exposure on poor sleep quality and BMI. Exposure also predicted poor sleep quality through its association with concurrent posttraumatic stress. The effect of exposure on self-reported health was mediated by health complaints and psychological distress, which included symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress. Conclusion: Exposure to war-related events during childhood is associated with posttraumatic stress, poor sleep quality, high BMI, and poor self-reported health in adulthood.
AB - Objectives: To determine whether exposure to war-related trauma during childhood predicted posttraumatic stress, self-reported health, sleep, and obesity in adulthood, and whether psychological distress mediated the relationships. Methods: We assessed 151 Kuwaiti boys and girls aged 9 to 12 years in 1993 to determine their level of exposure to war-related trauma during the Iraqi occupation and Gulf war, health complaints, and psychological distress. In 2003, 120 (79%) of the initial participants reported on their posttraumatic stress, general health, body mass index (BMI), and sleep quality. We tested a structural model where exposure to war-related trauma predicted psychological distress and health complaints 2 years after the war, and posttraumatic stress, self-reported health, BMI, and sleep quality and duration 10 years later, controlling for intermediary life events. We also tested effects of exposure to war-related trauma on self-reported health and sleep factors mediated by psychological distress. Results: Results indicated a direct effect of exposure on poor sleep quality and BMI. Exposure also predicted poor sleep quality through its association with concurrent posttraumatic stress. The effect of exposure on self-reported health was mediated by health complaints and psychological distress, which included symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress. Conclusion: Exposure to war-related events during childhood is associated with posttraumatic stress, poor sleep quality, high BMI, and poor self-reported health in adulthood.
KW - Children
KW - Health related
KW - Posttraumatic stress
KW - War-related trauma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70349675479&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=70349675479&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181ae6aee
DO - 10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181ae6aee
M3 - Article
C2 - 19592513
AN - SCOPUS:70349675479
VL - 71
SP - 776
EP - 783
JO - Psychosomatic Medicine
JF - Psychosomatic Medicine
SN - 0033-3174
IS - 7
ER -