BACKGROUND: Group-level factors may be associated with mental health. We assessed whether various village-level variables were associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms in a resettled postconflict population in Liberia. METHODS: Individual surveys were administered to a population-based sample (n = 1434). We used multilevel random intercept linear regression models to estimate associations between individual- and village-level variables and posttraumatic-stress-symptom score. RESULTS: In a multilevel model taking into account individual-level covariates, living in a village with higher mean number of traumatic experiences or greater history of displacement was associated with a higher symptom score. Conversely, living in a village with a more equal distribution of household wealth was associated with lower symptom score. CONCLUSIONS: Characteristics of communities, as well as of individuals, may be important determinants of posttraumatic stress in low-income countries, such as Liberia, that are recovering from conflict.
BACKGROUND: Group-level factors may be associated with mental health. We assessed whether various village-level variables were associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms in a resettled postconflict population in Liberia. METHODS: Individual surveys were administered to a population-based sample (n = 1434). We used multilevel random intercept linear regression models to estimate associations between individual- and village-level variables and posttraumatic-stress-symptom score. RESULTS: In a multilevel model taking into account individual-level covariates, living in a village with higher mean number of traumatic experiences or greater history of displacement was associated with a higher symptom score. Conversely, living in a village with a more equal distribution of household wealth was associated with lower symptom score. CONCLUSIONS: Characteristics of communities, as well as of individuals, may be important determinants of posttraumatic stress in low-income countries, such as Liberia, that are recovering from conflict.
Authors: Tamora A Callands; Shantesica M Gilliam; Katelyn M Sileo; Erica N Taylor; Josalin J Hunter-Jones; Nathan B Hansen Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2020-11-12