Resilience to trauma in the two largest cities of Brazil: a cross-sectional study

Author(s)

Vilete, Liliane ^[1] ; Figueira, Ivan ^[1] ; Andreoli, Sergio Baxter ^{[2, 3]} ; Ribeiro, Wagner ^{[3, 4]} ; Quintana, Maria Ines ^[3] ; Mari, Jair de Jesus ^{[3, 4]} ; Freire Coutinho, Evandro Silva ^[5]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Inst Psiquiatria, BR-22290140 Rio De Janeiro - Brazil

^[2] Univ Catolica Santos, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psiquiatria, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Kings Coll London, Hlth Serv & Populat Res Dept, Inst Psychiat, London WC2R 2LS - England

^[5] Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Escola Nacl Saude Publ, Rio De Janeiro - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BMC Psychiatry; v. 14, SEP 16 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

Background: Resilience is a dynamic process involving the interaction between intrapsychic and social factors of risk and protection. For resilience to be recognized there must be a significant threat to the individual, such as a traumatic event, and a good quality of adjustment. The aim of this study was to identify predisposing factors and possible mechanisms associated with resilience to traumatic events in the general population. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with a random sample, aged 15-75 years, living in the two largest cities in Brazil, who were exposed to trauma (N = 3,231). Positive adaptation to trauma was defined as the lifetime absence of anxiety (including posttraumatic stress disorder), depression and alcohol related disorders in the presence of at least one traumatic event. Logistic regression models predicting resilience were used to estimate the incidence density ratio. This measure expresses the extent to which the rate of resilience differs from the exposed group to the non-exposed group. Moreover, we explored the relationship between positive/negative affect and resilience, using linear regression models. Results: Male gender was a predisposing factor to positive adaptation (incidence density ratio {[}IDR] = 1.34; p < 0.001). There was an inverse linear relationship between childhood violence and resilience (IDR = 0.67; 0.53; 0.19; p < 0.001). Our findings suggest that the absence of parental mental disease (IDR = 1.35; p = 0.07) also predisposes individuals to positive adaptation. Conclusions: This study provides results that help to identify vulnerable groups and protective factors that may lead to a positive adaptation following traumatic experiences. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 04/15039-0 - Post-traumatic stress disorder: epidemiology, physiopathology and treatment
• Grantee: Jair de Jesus Mari
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants