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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Explanation for low prevalence of PTSD among older Finnish war veterans
— social solidarity and continued significance given to wartime sufferings | | Author(s) | A Hautamaki, P G Coleman |
| Journal title | Aging & Mental Health, vol 5, no 2, May 2001 |
| Pages | pp 165-174 |
| Source | http://www.tandfonline.com |
| Keywords | Armed Forces ; Stress ; Health [elderly] ; Evaluation ; Finland. |
| Annotation | A relatively low rate of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been reported for Finnish veterans of World War II. To seek explanations for this, interviews with 30 veterans (mean age 77) drew on an Attachment Theory perspective. Interviews used the Impact of Event Scale, the General Health Questionnaire, a health survey, and questions on medical problems and war experiences. A low rate of PTSD symptomatology was also reported in the sample, alongside a relatively high level of subjective well-being. Without exception, they spoke freely about the war, often with emotion. Themes emphasised included the Finnish fighting spirit and the strong reciprocal bonds of loyalty that were felt during the war. The war's significance had not waned with time, and has featured prominently in their experiences as old men, representing an honourable task that they had been called on to fulfil. The strong sense of community spirit built up in the war and through veterans' associations, with the continuing esteem of Finnish society, has contributed to the high levels of well-being expressed by the survivors. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-010702220 A |
| Classmark | VMM: QNH: CC: 4C: 76L |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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