Journal Articles
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915
Browse
3 results
Search Results
Item The impact of childhood sexual abuse on psychological distress among women in New Zealand.(2012-02) Flett RA; Kazantzis N; Long NR; MacDonald C; Millar M; Clark B; Edwards H; Petrik AMPROBLEMS: In order to better understand the long-term impact of child sex abuse, this study examined the association between women's experience of abuse, health symptoms, and psychological distress in adulthood. There is limited information about child abuse outside the United States. METHODS: Nine hundred sixty-one women participated in a structured interview. RESULTS: Participants who had experienced abuse (13%) were significantly more vulnerable to psychological distress in adulthood if they were younger, less satisfied with their standard of living, and resided in urban areas. CONCLUSION: Dissemination and evaluation of therapies for the treatment of sex abuse in the New Zealand context is warranted.Item Gender and ethnicity differences in the prevalence of traumatic events: Evidence from a New Zealand community sample(John Wiley and Sons, Ltd, 2004) Flett RA; Kazantzis N; Long NR; MacDonald C; Millar MOne thousand five hundred community residing New Zealand adults were assessed regarding their experience of traumatic events. Sixty-one per cent of those surveyed reported exposure to a traumatic event during their lifetime. Unexpected death of a close friend or relative was the most prevalent traumatic experience for the present sample, whereas combat and natural disasters were the least prevalent traumatic events. Consistent with prior research demonstrating gender differences in exposure to traumatic events, child and adult sexual assault was more common among women, and motor vehicle accidents and combat were more common among men. The present study also found that Maori individuals (indigenous people) had experienced a number of traumatic events to a greater extent than their European counterparts. These results are discussed within the New Zealand social context. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Item Traumatic events and physical health in a New Zealand community sample(International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, 2002) Flett RA; Kazantzis N; Long NR; MacDonald C; Millar MTraumatic event exposure and physical health were examined in a community-residing sample of 1,500 New Zealand adults. Half (51%) reported past traumatic event exposure, 9% reported recent (past 12 months) trauma exposure, and 40% reported no exposure. After adjusting for gender, ethnic, and age differences, those experiencing crime and accident trauma exhibited significantly deteriorated physical health, as measured by current physical symptoms, chronic medical conditions, and chronic limitations in daily functioning. Further research is required to assess the influence of traumatic events on the physical health among adults from other countries, and to evaluate the factors that may mediate or moderate this relationship for different subgroups of the New Zealand population. Limitations of this study are outlined.
