Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms and Related Factors in High School Student Adolescents

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine post-traumatic stress symptoms and related factors in high school student adolescents living in a county in Southeast Anatolia. The study used a cross-sectional design. The population of the study consisted of 9522 students, and the sample included 459 students from 10 high schools. A Descriptive Information Form, Post-Traumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale, Beck Depression Scale, and Ways of Coping Questionnaire were used to collect the study data. The findings indicated that that 57.7% (n=202) of the participants were at the age of 15 or younger and that 64.2% (n=251) were female. According to the study, 87.2% (n=341) of the students had symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There was a statistically significant difference between the students' depression symptoms and PTSD symptoms. A significant difference was found between students' ways of coping with stress and symptoms of PTSD only in terms of the helplessness approach style. It was determined that nine out of ten students experienced symptoms of PTSD, depression symptoms increased as the symptoms of PTSD increased, and that the students used the helplessness approach to cope with stress. These results are important in terms of planning preventive mental health services to be offered in the region.

Keywords

• adolescence
• post traumatic stress disorder
• depression
• coping with stress