Culture as a Double-Edged Sword: The Posttraumatic Experience of Indigenous Ethnic Minority Veterans

Shorer, Shai; Goldblatt, Hadass; Caspi, Yael; Azaiza, Faisal

doi:10.1177/1049732318756041

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 59 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Even then, it took insistence from the spouses for the responders to get help. However, social interaction can also serve to dissuade identification as someone with mental illness if a spouse or other sources of social support do not recognize mental illness as a legitimate concern (Shorer, Goldblatt, Caspi, & Azaiza, 2018). For example, the work context(s) of professional responders in this study tended to be places where disclosure of posttraumatic stress symptoms was discouraged—or, “stuffed”—likely reinforcing a culture in which social interaction dissuaded identification as someone with mental illness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trauma and Relationship Strain: Oral Histories With World Trade Center Disaster Responders

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Existing models of couple functioning after trauma are primarily based on the experiences of returning military veterans. In this study, we conducted thematic analysis of a purposive sample of 49 oral histories of responders to the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks to understand how they navigated life with their spouses after the response experience. Use of multiple coders and analytic matrices increased analytic rigor. In the sample, 34.7% disclosed a posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis and another 22.7% mentioned experiencing at least one trauma symptom. Most responders had not sought mental health intervention, relying instead on their spouses’ caregiving. Responders reported limited disclosure to their spouses about the details of their 9/11/01 response work, which may have helped them cope emotionally with repeated 9/11/01 clean-up duties. Shared values regarding the common good and patriotism were important for maintaining an intimate relationship after 9/11/01, and helping partners understand and feel understood by each other.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trauma and Relationship Strain: Oral Histories With World Trade Center Disaster Responders

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Acknowledging Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Treatment Utilisation Amongst Israeli Bedouin and Jewish Combat Veterans

Shorer

Caspi

Goldblatt

et al. 2020

The British Journal of Social Work

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Many veterans coping with combat-post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) refrain from seeking psychological treatment. We explored the nature of illness recognition and treatment utilisation in two different cultural groups of Israeli veterans—Bedouin and Jewish. Using qualitative research methods, we interviewed twenty veterans dealing with PTSD (ten Bedouin and ten Jewish) and ten mental health professionals. Participants shared their experiences of symptoms, the ways they coped, and their perception of the costs and benefits of psychological treatment. Two main themes emerged: (i) ‘Veterans’ Perceptions of Their Mental Injury’. In stark contrast to their Jewish counterparts, Bedouin participants described extreme lack of understanding regarding the relationship between their exposure to combat trauma and their distress; (ii) ‘Veterans’ Perceptions of the Mental Health Services’. Bedouin veterans expressed fear of the stigma associated with PTSD and its detrimental social implications, for them and their families. Jewish veterans emphasised the beneficial and informative role of therapy. The findings underscore the impact of different cultural codes on help-seeking behaviours and on the ability to benefit from psychological treatment. It is recommended that mental health practitioners consider cultural backgrounds and individual differences when implementing trauma interventions, to fine-tune their suitability to veterans facing excessive barriers to care.

show abstract

Experiences of ethnic minority personnel in the armed forces: A systematic review

Salem,

Randles,

Sapre

et al. 2024

Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

LAY SUMMARY An armed forces consisting of personnel from diverse and ethnic minority backgrounds offers considerable benefits, not just in terms of reflecting society but for improving the effectiveness of military operations. Many ethnic minority individuals serve for long periods, during which they experience personal growth and benefit from military service. However, little research has explored the impact these experiences might have on ethnic minority communities within the Armed Forces, who report higher levels of bullying, harassment, and discrimination. Given the lack of empirical research into armed forces ethnic minority personnel, this systematic review aimed to provide insight into and understanding of existing international research, relevant reports, and policy. The review was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and included articles written in English since 2010. The review identified three themes — cultural identity, health status and health utilization, and trauma and discrimination — and indicated that ethnic minority personnel experience greater disadvantage than their native counterparts, both during and after service.

show abstract

Culture as a Double-Edged Sword: The Posttraumatic Experience of Indigenous Ethnic Minority Veterans

Cited by 5 publications

References 59 publications

Trauma and Relationship Strain: Oral Histories With World Trade Center Disaster Responders

Trauma and Relationship Strain: Oral Histories With World Trade Center Disaster Responders

Acknowledging Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Treatment Utilisation Amongst Israeli Bedouin and Jewish Combat Veterans

Experiences of ethnic minority personnel in the armed forces: A systematic review

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About