Approximately 25–30 people per 100,000 population died, most of whom were Kosovar Albanians ( Fanaj et al., 2014). The Kosovo War ended in the 1990s, and the country witnessed multiple traumatic events during that time. In this context, exploring the mental health status in Kosovo is critical. War-afflicted communities display a significantly higher prevalence of PTSD and depression than those with no recent history of open conflict ( Priebe et al., 2010). The lack of competent mental health personnel-owing to insufficient mental health services-poses challenges in the implementation of evidence-based interventions customized to the needs of low middle-income countries (LMICs Morina et al., 2010a). These environmental stressors contribute to mental disorder morbidity, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD ( Yatham et al., 2018). Most war casualties are civilians, with multitudes living in low-and middle-income countries that are perpetually riddled with poverty and civil conflicts ( Brundtland, 2000). Global data from 2022 indicates a 16% prevalence of PTSD worldwide, and from 1989 to 2019, the prevalence of PTSD in war-afflicted countries was 23% ( Hoppen et al., 2021).Īpproximately half of the world’s countries have been afflicted with war or an open conflict over the past three decades ( Pettersson and Wallensteen, 2015). The American Psychiatric Association defines post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a trauma-and stress-related disorder that develops in distressed individuals owing to traumatic events such as natural disasters, accidents, death, crime (sexual or otherwise), or war ( American Psychiatric Association, 2013) and includes behavioral and action-level disorders that impact daily life. The study underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to examine the complex and diverse nature of PTSD and its impact on individuals, families, and communities, especially in conflict-prone or conflict-affected societies. Participants with perceived PTSD and lower perceived social support needed mental health interventions significantly more than those without PTSD symptoms.ĭiscussion: The findings emphasize the importance of addressing the intergenerational nature of PTSD and identifying factors affecting its prevalence, including social support and access to mental health services. These youth also experienced significantly more traumatic situations, such as exposure to sudden violent death or accidental death, assault with a weapon, sexual assault, and captivity. Youth whose parents had PTSD were more prone to experiencing PTSD symptoms than those whose parents did not have PTSD. Results: The results revealed that the youth had significantly higher levels of perceived PTSD symptoms and lower levels of perceived support than their parents. Study variables were measured using the PTSD Checklist, the Life Events Checklist, Criterion A, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Method: A total of 237 Kosovar Albanians (121 parents, 116 youth) from all seven districts of Kosovo were included in this study. The study also aimed to identify the factors affecting PTSD prevalence, the role of social support, and the participants’ experience with mental health services. These experiences were then compared to understand intergenerational trauma.
This study aimed to obtain insights into the prevalence of perceived PTSD symptoms and their relation to the traumatic experiences of two generations: parents (survivors of the Kosovo War) and youth (children born after the Kosovo War), with an emphasis on the Albanian ethnic group. War-induced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highly prevalent in Kosovo. Introduction: War has profound and deep-rooted ramifications for individuals and societies. Department of Psychology, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtina, Kosovo.28, 1100–1113 (2019).Zamira Hyseni Duraku Genta Jahiu * Donjeta Geci Ukrainian war refugees and migrants in Poland: implications for public health. Korzeniewski, K., Shkilna, M., Huk, M., Shevchuk, O. Refugee Data Finder (accessed 22 October 2023).