Abstract
Some life-event experiences such as injuries in car accidents, gun shots and the like, can be life changing and traumatic. The article investigated the relationship between mental health and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms after orthopaedic trauma, and attempted to understand whether social support moderates the relationship between mental health and PTSD. A cross-sectional research model was used. Two hundred participants were selected using simple randomisation within a hospital complex in Gauteng, South Africa. The sample consisted of 110 men and 90 women (x̄=37.8 years, s.d.=12.9 years). Data were collected using the Revised Civilian Mississippi Scale for PTSD, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the General Health Questionnaire version 28. The findings of the study indicated that there is a statistically significant relationship between mental health and PTSD after orthopaedic trauma, and a positive correlation between poor mental health and PTSD (r=0.52, n=200, p<0.05). However, perceived social support did not moderate mental health or PTSD, indicating that perceived social support did not significantly influence mental health or PTSD, (MSPSS B=0.07, p=0.66). Those with high scores on social support had a lower regression coefficient (B=0.19) for mental health and PTSD than those who reported low social support (B=0.26). There is a significant relationship between mental health and PTSD of orthopaedic patients, and social support did not moderate the relationship between mental health and PTSD.
Highlights
Traumatic injuries account for nine per cent of the global mortality and survivors of traumatic injuries face physical, emotional and financial repercussions that can impact their lives and that of their families (Steel et al 2011:288)
The results indicated that there is a significant relationship between mental health and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after orthopaedic trauma, thereby confirming hypothesis 1 results showed that social support did not moderate mental health and PTSD relationship and as a result hypothesis 2 was not confirmed
The findings indicate that orthopaedic patients do suffer from poor mental health, ranging from depression to somatic
Summary
Traumatic injuries account for nine per cent of the global mortality and survivors of traumatic injuries face physical, emotional and financial repercussions that can impact their lives and that of their families (Steel et al 2011:288). According to the World Health Organization (WHO 2009:3), between 20 million and 50 million non-fatal injuries are estimated to occur annually around the world, and in addition, annual injuries due to violence, motor vehicle accidents, burns, falls or drowning account for 16% of all disabilities. More than 1.5 million persons sustain traumatic physical injuries each year (Wong et al 2011:67). Millions of orthopaedic patients suffer from permanent or temporary disabilities and lose more years of work life than individuals with cancer or heart diseases combined (Steel et al 2011:288). Some life-event experiences such as injuries in car accidents, gun shots and the like, can be life changing and traumatic
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