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Relationship of Locus of Control, Psychological Distress, and Trauma Exposure in Groups Impacted by Intense Political Conflict in Egypt

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 May 2013

Vasiliki Papanikolaou ,
Mohsen Gadallah ,
Gloria R. Leon ,
Efthalia Massou ,
Gerasimos Prodromitis ,
Angelos Skembris  and
Jeffrey Levett
Vasiliki Papanikolaou
Affiliation:
Department of Health Service Management, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece
Mohsen Gadallah
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
Gloria R. Leon*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
Efthalia Massou
Affiliation:
Department of Health Service Management, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece
Gerasimos Prodromitis
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens, Greece
Angelos Skembris
Affiliation:
Department of Health Service Management, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece
Jeffrey Levett
Affiliation:
Department of Health Service Management, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece
*
Correspondence: Gloria Leon, PhD Department of Psychology University of Minnesota Elliot Hall, 75 E. River Road Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA E-mail leonx003@umn.edu
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Abstract

Introduction

Social and political instability have become common situations in many parts of the world. Exposure to different types of traumatic circumstances may differentially affect psychological status.

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare the relationship between personal perceptions of control over the events happening in one's life and psychological distress in two groups who experienced physical trauma but differed as to whether the trauma was a result of political upheaval and violence. Views on the extent to which the state was interested in the individual were also assessed.

Methods

The sample consisted of 120 patients who were injured in the Cairo epicenter and 120 matched controls from the greater Cairo area whose injuries were from other causes. The Brown Locus of Control Scale and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL 90-R) were administered approximately three months after the January 2011 start of the demonstrations and subsequent overthrow of the government.

Results

The groups did not differ on locus of control. For both groups, externality was associated with greater distress, suggesting a relationship between perceived helplessness in controlling one's life and distress. The Cairo group scored significantly higher than the control group on the SCL 90-R Global Severity Index (GSI) and Positive Symptom Total (PST). Perceptions of state interest in the population were low; overall, 78% viewed the state as having little or no interest in them.

Discussion

The relationship between exposure intensity and psychological distress is examined. In addition, differences in findings in populations experiencing political chaos compared with other types of disasters are considered.

Conclusion

Beliefs regarding personal control over one's life circumstances are more closely associated with psychological distress than the circumstances in which the trauma occurred.

PapanikolaouV, GadallahM, LeonG, MassouE, ProdromitisG, SkembrisA, LevettJ. Relationship of Locus of Control, Psychological Distress, and Trauma Exposure in Groups Impacted by Intense Political Conflict in Egypt. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(4):1-5.

Keywords

locus of controlpolitical conflictspsychological distresspsychopathology
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 28 , Issue 5 , October 2013 , pp. 423 - 427
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2013 

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