Potentially traumatic events have negative and positive effects on loneliness, depending on PTSD-symptom levels: evidence from a population-based prospective comparative study

Abstract

PurposeExamine to what extent adults affected by recent potentially traumatic events (PTE) with different PTSD-symptom levels are more at risk for post-event loneliness than non-affected adults are in the same study period.MethodsWe extracted data from the Dutch longitudinal LISS panel to measure pre-event loneliness (2011) and post-event loneliness (2013 and 2014), pre-event mental health problems (2011), PTE and PTSD symptoms (2012). This panel is based on a traditional random sample drawn from the population register by Statistics Netherlands.ResultsResults of the multinomial logistic regression analyses showed that affected adults with high levels of PTSD symptoms were more at risk for high levels of post-event loneliness than affected adults with very low PTSD-symptom levels and non-affected adults, while controlling for pre-event loneliness, pre-event mental health problems and demographics. However, affected adults with very low levels of PTSD symptoms compared to non-affected adults were less at risk for medium and high levels of post-event loneliness while controlling for the same variables. Yet, pre-event loneliness appeared to be the strongest independent predictor of loneliness at later stages: more than 80% with high pre-event levels had high post-event levels at both follow-ups.ConclusionsRemarkably, potentially traumatic events have depending on PTSD-symptom levels both negative and positive effects on post-event loneliness in favor of affected adults with very low PTSD symptoms levels. However, post-event levels at later stages are predominantly determined by pre-event loneliness levels.

Which groups affected by Potentially Traumatic Events (PTEs) are most at risk for a lack of social support? A prospective population-based study on the 12-month prevalence of PTEs and risk factors for a lack of post-event social support

“…The findings clearly indicate that a lack of support and recognition are direct consequences of an existing lack of social contacts, social network or social interactions (loneliness). In addition, our findings are in line with previous research showing that pre-event mental health problems and loneliness are important independent predictors of post-event loneliness [34]. These results indicate that early screening for risk of psycho-social problems after PTEs should include an assessment of pre-event functioning to enable tailor-made interventions.…”

“…Research has shown that PTSD-symptom levels erode social support and social acknowledgment, also called "social selection" [6,54]. In an earlier study we found that potentially traumatic events have, depending on PTSD-symptom levels, negative and positive effects on post-event loneliness in favor of affected adults with very low PTSD symptoms levels [34]. People in the social environment may find it difficult to respond because of the PTE and stress reactions, and therefore avoid talking about the experiences and problems, resulting in lower support levels.…”

“…For this reason, it is largely unknown to what extent pre-event factors, such as existing mental health problems and existing loneliness, are associated with lack of post-event social support and event-related social recognition. Prospective research has shown that existing mental health problems and existing loneliness were associated with post-event mental health problems and loneliness [32,33,34]. For example, a recent study showed that existing mental health problems and loneliness independently predicted loneliness about one and two years post-event [34], suggesting that it may negatively impact postevent social support and acknowledgment.…”

“…Prospective research has shown that existing mental health problems and existing loneliness were associated with post-event mental health problems and loneliness [32,33,34]. For example, a recent study showed that existing mental health problems and loneliness independently predicted loneliness about one and two years post-event [34], suggesting that it may negatively impact postevent social support and acknowledgment. In addition, little is known about the associations between demographics on the one hand and a lack of support and event-related recognition on the other.…”

Posttraumatic stress disorder correlates among Iraqi internally displaced persons in Duhok, Iraqi Kurdistan

“…This nding indicates that poor social support is a strong predictor of PTSD among Iraqi IDPs. Those who were widowed prior to the 2014 events may have been affected by prior loneliness and its mental consequences, aggravating their vulnerability to PTSD [33]. Following traumatic events, the incidence of PTSD is signi cantly higher in widows than in married women with living spouses.…”