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Post‐traumatic stress disorder, social support and cognitive status in community‐based older veterans
Author(s) -
Alpass Fiona,
Long Nigel,
Blakey Judy,
Pachancy
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
australasian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 1440-6381
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-6612.2004.00017.x
Subject(s) - social support , clinical psychology , psychology , cognition , depression (economics) , psychological intervention , traumatic stress , population , psychiatry , medicine , psychotherapist , environmental health , economics , macroeconomics
Objective:The present study investigated the relationships between structural and qualitative aspects of social support, combat‐related post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and cognitive status in a New Zealand veterans sample.Methods:A random sample of 232 New Zealand veterans completed a self‐report questionnaire and participated in a face‐to‐face interview.Results:Regression analysis showed that when controlling for age, income, education, depression and general health, PTSD scores had a negative relationship with cognitive status. Those who reported having private, restricted social networks had poorer cognitive functioning. These relationships were independent of each other.Conclusions:The findings suggest that while social support might be a potential target for interventions in at‐risk older adults, health professionals need to be aware of the concomitant possible influence of past trauma when dealing with this specific population.