Collective Trauma- Psychosocial consequences of war in northern Sri Lanka 10 years on, a mixed methods study

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21257243
AutoresUmaharan Thamotharampillai (University of Jaffna), Ruwanthi Perera (0000-0002-8734-9883, Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine), Rajitha Wickremasinghe (0000-0001-7909-7033, University of Kelaniya), Shehan Williams (0000-0001-7764-5550, University of Kelaniya), Thedsanamoorthy Vijayasangar (Study Center for National Reconciliation), Balasubramaniam Sivatharsan (Study Center for National Reconciliation), Vanceline Hilbert (Study Center for National Reconciliation), Daya Somasundaram (0000-0003-3305-3320, University of Jaffna, autor de correspondencia)
Año2025
Volumen8
Páginas100457
Fecha de publicación2025-12-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaSSM - Mental Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2666-5603 • E-ISSN: 2666-5603
EditorialElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.ssmmh.2025.100457
OpenAlexW4410119019
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas2
Referencias citadas22

Introduction Individuals, families and communities in Sri Lanka, particularly in the North-East of Sri Lanka, have undergone 3 decades of war trauma. Methods Mixed quantitative and qualitative methods with an integrated, holistic and inclusive approach using validated survey measures of trauma, collective distress and mental health, complemented by information from narratives, observations, key-informant interviews, focus group discussions and case studies were collected from the war-affected in 5 districts of Sri Lanka. Thick description was used to bring out the contours of collective trauma through exemplar quotes, summarized verbatims and collective themes. Main findings At the individual level, high levels of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (46.8 %), depression (57.1 %), anxiety (60.7 %), stress (50 %), somatization (40.2 %) and functional disability (36.4 %) were found. Individual level consequences were significantly higher in districts with high trauma as compared to those with low trauma burdens. Coping intensity was correlated with anxiety, stress, PTSD and somatization. At the family level, dysfunctional families had a higher proportion of members with suicidal thoughts, mental health issues, alcohol and drug abuse, poor income, lack of essential facilities and dissatisfaction with family life. At the community level, common problems reported were use of illicit drugs (86.2 %) and alcohol (84.5 %), family problems (36.4 %), unemployment (32 %) and financial problems (26.3 %). Study villages scored very low in structural social capital. Bonding social capital was used more indicating its use as a coping strategy. Conclusion This study provides evidence that trauma in a population can collectively affect the characteristics and dynamics of the group as a whole. The observed social capital and collective efficacy changes, dysfunctional family units, negative changes in the functional dynamics of the community, higher rates of coping efforts and high prevalence of individual level effects of trauma are manifestations of collective trauma

Ancient history · Criminology · Geography · Political science · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Socioeconomics · Sociology · South asia · Sri lanka · Clinical Psychology · Health and Conflict Studies · History · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology · Resilience and Mental Health