Abstract
BackgroundSelf-efficacy may be an important factor in individuals’ recovery from posttraumatic stress reactions after a natural disaster. However, few longitudinal studies have investigated whether self-efficacy predicts the course of posttraumatic recovery beyond lower initial levels of distress. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether general self-efficacy is related to recovery from posttraumatic stress reactions from a longitudinal perspective.MethodsA total of 617 Norwegians exposed to the 2004 Southeast Asian tsunami completed self-report questionnaires measuring their level of disaster exposure and general self-efficacy at 6 months and posttraumatic stress reactions 6 months and 2 years post-disaster. Predictors of changes in posttraumatic stress reactions were analyzed with multivariate mixed effects models.ResultsSelf-efficacy at 6 months post-disaster was unrelated to trauma exposure and inversely related to posttraumatic stress reactions at 6 months and 2 years post-disaster. However, self-efficacy was not related to recovery from posttraumatic stress reactions between 6 months and 2 years post-disaster.ConclusionsIn conclusion, general self-efficacy is related to lower levels of posttraumatic stress reactions in the first months after a disaster but does not appear to be related to improved recovery rates over the longer term.
Highlights
Self-efficacy may be an important factor in individuals’ recovery from posttraumatic stress reactions after a natural disaster
The present study examined general self-efficacy (GSE) and posttraumatic recovery between 6 months and 2 years post-disaster in a large group of Norwegian tourists repatriated after the 2004 Southeast Asia tsunami
We found that higher levels of general perceived selfefficacy were related to lower levels of posttraumatic stress reactions at both 6 months (T1) and 2 years (T2) post-disaster
Summary
Self-efficacy may be an important factor in individuals’ recovery from posttraumatic stress reactions after a natural disaster. Few longitudinal studies have investigated whether self-efficacy predicts the course of posttraumatic recovery beyond lower initial levels of distress. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether general self-efficacy is related to recovery from posttraumatic stress reactions from a longitudinal perspective. Few longitudinal studies have investigated GSE and posttraumatic recovery after disasters, and even fewer studies have controlled for initial levels of posttraumatic stress reactions. Wadsworth, Santiago [10] did not control for prior levels of distress; rather, they used longitudinal data to define four trajectory groups They found that higher levels of perceived coping efficacy among trauma victims were related to more transient posttraumatic stress reactions 6 and 12 months after a hurricane. Benight and Harper [11]
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