Victimization and PTSD in a Lithuanian national youth probability sample

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Paaugliai; Trauminiai įvykiai; Viktimizacija; Adolescents; Trauma; Victimization.

ENTwenty-one potentially traumatizing and distressing events, and the impact of these events were described in a representative sample of 183 9th grade Lithuanian adolescents (M = 15.1 years). The participants had been directly exposed to a mean of 1.9 events, and indirectly exposed to a mean of 2.4 events. The estimated lifetime prevalence of PTSD was 6.1%. Subclinical levels of PTSD reached 12.2%. Results are generally comparable to other European youth studies. Variables pertaining to female gender, living with a single parent, direct and indirect exposure to traumatic events, number of traumatic events, and the temporal proximity of trauma events, predicted higher PTSD levels. Both direct and indirect exposure to traumatic events may lead to subsequent mental health problems and PTSD in adolescents. [From the publication]