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. 2016 Jan;46(2):327-43.
doi: 10.1017/S0033291715001981. Epub 2015 Oct 29.

The epidemiology of traumatic event exposure worldwide: results from the World Mental Health Survey Consortium

C Benjet  1 , E Bromet  2 , E G Karam  3 , R C Kessler  4 , K A McLaughlin  5 , A M Ruscio  6 , V Shahly  4 , D J Stein  7 , M Petukhova  4 , E Hill  4 , J Alonso  8 , L Atwoli  9 , B Bunting  10 , R Bruffaerts  11 , J M Caldas-de-Almeida  12 , G de Girolamo  13 , S Florescu  14 , O Gureje  15 , Y Huang  16 , J P Lepine  17 , N Kawakami  18 , Viviane Kovess-Masfety  19 , M E Medina-Mora  1 , F Navarro-Mateu  20 , M Piazza  21 , J Posada-Villa  22 , K M Scott  23 , A Shalev  24 , T Slade  25 , M ten Have  26 , Y Torres  27 , M C Viana  28 , Z Zarkov  29 , K C Koenen  30
Affiliations

The epidemiology of traumatic event exposure worldwide: results from the World Mental Health Survey Consortium

C Benjet et al. Psychol Med. 2016 Jan.

Abstract

Background: Considerable research has documented that exposure to traumatic events has negative effects on physical and mental health. Much less research has examined the predictors of traumatic event exposure. Increased understanding of risk factors for exposure to traumatic events could be of considerable value in targeting preventive interventions and anticipating service needs.

Method: General population surveys in 24 countries with a combined sample of 68 894 adult respondents across six continents assessed exposure to 29 traumatic event types. Differences in prevalence were examined with cross-tabulations. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to determine whether traumatic event types clustered into interpretable factors. Survival analysis was carried out to examine associations of sociodemographic characteristics and prior traumatic events with subsequent exposure.

Results: Over 70% of respondents reported a traumatic event; 30.5% were exposed to four or more. Five types - witnessing death or serious injury, the unexpected death of a loved one, being mugged, being in a life-threatening automobile accident, and experiencing a life-threatening illness or injury - accounted for over half of all exposures. Exposure varied by country, sociodemographics and history of prior traumatic events. Being married was the most consistent protective factor. Exposure to interpersonal violence had the strongest associations with subsequent traumatic events.

Conclusions: Given the near ubiquity of exposure, limited resources may best be dedicated to those that are more likely to be further exposed such as victims of interpersonal violence. Identifying mechanisms that account for the associations of prior interpersonal violence with subsequent trauma is critical to develop interventions to prevent revictimization.

Keywords: Disasters; epidemiology; injury; revictimization; trauma; violence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interest

In the past 3 years, R.C.K. has been a consultant for Hoffman-La Roche, Inc., Johnson & Johnson Wellness and Prevention and Sonofi-Aventis Groupe. R.C.K. has served on advisory boards for Mensante Corporation, Plus One Health Management, Lake Nona Institute and US Preventive Medicine. R.C.K. owns a 25% share in DataStat, Inc. In the past 3 years, D.J.S. has received research grants and/or consultancy honoraria from AMBRF, Biocodex, Cipla, Lundbeck, National Responsible Gambling Foundation, Novartis, Servier and Sun. D.J.S. is supported by the MRC of South Africa. None of the other authors has any conflicts to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Prevalence of exposure to any traumatic event in each survey of the 24 countries.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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