Exposure to self-reported traumatic events and probable PTSD in a national sample of Poles: Why does Poland’s PTSD prevalence differ from other national estimates?

StatusVoR
Simple item page
cris.lastimport.scopus2025-08-28T03:12:24Z
dc.abstract.enBackground There is a lack of studies on trauma exposure and PTSD prevalence in Poland on representative samples. Available data from studies on convenient samples show very high rates of probable PTSD compared with relevant estimates in other countries. Objective This study aimed to measure the exposure to self-report traumatic events (PTEs) and to estimate the current rate of prevalence of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in accordance with DSM–5 criteria in a population-based sample of Poles. Additionally, the link between PTSD intensity and level of life satisfaction was investigated. Method A representative sample of 1,598 adult Poles was recruited. Probable PTSD was assessed with the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale for DSM–5 (PDS–5) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) was also used. Results The findings showed that 60.3% of Poles had experienced at least one PTE and 31.1% of those who had been exposed to trauma reported symptoms of PTSD. At the level of the entire sample, the obtained rate for probable PTSD was 18.8%. The traumatic events with the highest probabilities of PTSD symptoms were child abuse and sexual assault. Levels of life satisfaction were significantly lower in the group of participants with probable PTSD. Conclusions We found that the current prevalence of probable PTSD in Poland is intriguingly high relative to rates reported in comparable representative samples from other countries across the world. Possible mechanisms are discussed, including a lack of social acknowledgement of WWII and other traumas as well as poor access to trauma-focused care. We hope that this research may inspire more studies investigating cross-national differences in PTSD and trauma exposure.
dc.affiliationWydział Psychologii w Warszawie
dc.contributor.authorRzeszutek, Marcin
dc.contributor.authorDragan, Małgorzata
dc.contributor.authorLis-Turlejska, Maria
dc.contributor.authorSchier, Katarzyna
dc.contributor.authorHolas, Paweł
dc.contributor.authorDrabarek, Katarzyna
dc.contributor.authorVan Hoy, Angelika
dc.contributor.authorPięta, Małgorzata
dc.contributor.authorPoncyliusz, Cecylia
dc.contributor.authorMichałowska, Magdalena
dc.contributor.authorWdowczyk, Gabriela
dc.contributor.authorBorowska, Natalia
dc.contributor.authorSzumiał, Szymon
dc.contributor.editorInga Schalinski
dc.date.access2023-07-10
dc.date.accessioned2024-10-11T06:02:29Z
dc.date.available2024-10-11T06:02:29Z
dc.date.created2023-06-14
dc.date.issued2023-07-10
dc.description.abstract<jats:sec id="sec001"> <jats:title>Background</jats:title> <jats:p>There is a lack of studies on trauma exposure and PTSD prevalence in Poland on representative samples. Available data from studies on convenient samples show very high rates of probable PTSD compared with relevant estimates in other countries.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec id="sec002"> <jats:title>Objective</jats:title> <jats:p>This study aimed to measure the exposure to self-report traumatic events (PTEs) and to estimate the current rate of prevalence of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in accordance with DSM–5 criteria in a population-based sample of Poles. Additionally, the link between PTSD intensity and level of life satisfaction was investigated.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec id="sec003"> <jats:title>Method</jats:title> <jats:p>A representative sample of 1,598 adult Poles was recruited. Probable PTSD was assessed with the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale for DSM–5 (PDS–5) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) was also used.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec id="sec004"> <jats:title>Results</jats:title> <jats:p>The findings showed that 60.3% of Poles had experienced at least one PTE and 31.1% of those who had been exposed to trauma reported symptoms of PTSD. At the level of the entire sample, the obtained rate for probable PTSD was 18.8%. The traumatic events with the highest probabilities of PTSD symptoms were child abuse and sexual assault. Levels of life satisfaction were significantly lower in the group of participants with probable PTSD.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec id="sec005"> <jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title> <jats:p>We found that the current prevalence of probable PTSD in Poland is intriguingly high relative to rates reported in comparable representative samples from other countries across the world. Possible mechanisms are discussed, including a lack of social acknowledgement of WWII and other traumas as well as poor access to trauma-focused care. We hope that this research may inspire more studies investigating cross-national differences in PTSD and trauma exposure.</jats:p> </jats:sec>
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.issue7
dc.description.physical1-15
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume18
dc.identifier.doi10.1371/journal.pone.0287854
dc.identifier.issn1932-6203
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/920
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10332613/
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOPEN_JOURNAL
dc.swps.sciencecloudnosend
dc.titleExposure to self-reported traumatic events and probable PTSD in a national sample of Poles: Why does Poland’s PTSD prevalence differ from other national estimates?
dc.title.journalPLOS ONE
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle