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. 2016 Apr 6:4:15.
doi: 10.1186/s40359-016-0119-2.

General self-efficacy and posttraumatic stress after a natural disaster: a longitudinal study

Egil Nygaard  1   2 , Ajmal Hussain  3 , Johan Siqveland  3   4 , Trond Heir  4   5
Affiliations

General self-efficacy and posttraumatic stress after a natural disaster: a longitudinal study

Egil Nygaard et al. BMC Psychol. .

Abstract

Background: Self-efficacy may be an important factor in individuals' recovery from posttraumatic stress reactions after a natural disaster. However, few longitudinal studies have investigated whether self-efficacy predicts the course of posttraumatic recovery beyond lower initial levels of distress. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether general self-efficacy is related to recovery from posttraumatic stress reactions from a longitudinal perspective.

Methods: A total of 617 Norwegians exposed to the 2004 Southeast Asian tsunami completed self-report questionnaires measuring their level of disaster exposure and general self-efficacy at 6 months and posttraumatic stress reactions 6 months and 2 years post-disaster. Predictors of changes in posttraumatic stress reactions were analyzed with multivariate mixed effects models.

Results: Self-efficacy at 6 months post-disaster was unrelated to trauma exposure and inversely related to posttraumatic stress reactions at 6 months and 2 years post-disaster. However, self-efficacy was not related to recovery from posttraumatic stress reactions between 6 months and 2 years post-disaster.

Conclusions: In conclusion, general self-efficacy is related to lower levels of posttraumatic stress reactions in the first months after a disaster but does not appear to be related to improved recovery rates over the longer term.

Keywords: Disaster; PTSD; Posttraumatic stress reactions; Self-efficacy.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
General self-efficacy and recovery from posttraumatic stress reactions. The bivariate relationships between general perceived self-efficacy and changes in posttraumatic stress reactions (Impact of Event Scale-Revised). Both linear and quadratic regression lines are included
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