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Traumatic events and physical health in a New Zealand community sample
Author(s) -
Flett Ross A.,
Kazantzis Nikolaos,
Long Nigel R.,
MacDonald Carol,
Millar Michelle
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1023/a:1016251828407
Subject(s) - ethnic group , occupational safety and health , physical health , injury prevention , population , medicine , public health , suicide prevention , poison control , psychiatry , psychology , mental health , clinical psychology , gerontology , environmental health , nursing , pathology , sociology , anthropology
Traumatic event exposure and physical health were examined in a community‐residing sample of 1,500 New Zealand adults. Half (51%) reported past traumatic event exposure, 9% reported recent (past 12 months) trauma exposure, and 40% reported no exposure. After adjusting for gender, ethnic, and age differences, those experiencing crime and accident trauma exhibited significantly deteriorated physical health, as measured by current physical symptoms, chronic medical conditions, and chronic limitations in daily functioning. Further research is required to assess the influence of traumatic events on the physical health among adults from other countries, and to evaluate the factors that may mediate or moderate this relationship for different subgroups of the New Zealand population. Limitations of this study are outlined.