Are torture survivors more resilient and develop higher PTG, than nontortured refugees?: The role of will to exist, live, and survive: A replication and extension.

Kira, Ibrahim A.; Aljakoub, Jakoub; Ibraheem, Boshra Al; Shuwiekh, Hanaa

doi:10.1037/pac0000639

Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology

2023

DOI: 10.1037/pac0000639

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Are torture survivors more resilient and develop higher PTG, than nontortured refugees?: The role of will to exist, live, and survive: A replication and extension.

Ibrahim A. Kira¹,

Jakoub Aljakoub²,

Boshra Al Ibraheem³

et al.

Abstract: One study found that torture survivors are more resilient and develop higher posttraumatic growth (PTG) than nontortured refugees and suggested that this is due to their higher group identity salience. Will to exist, live, survive, and fight (WTELS-F) is intimately related to identity salience. The present study aims to check the replicability of these earlier counterintuitive findings and if potentially higher WTELS-F in torture survivors explains these differences. Using a sample of 891 internally displaced … Show more

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Cited by 2 publications

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Are the main effects of the will to exist, live, survive and fight on optimizing executive function due to its optimizing self-motivation? A longitudinal study

Kira

Shuwiekh

2023

Cogn Process

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The study aims to identify the mechanisms underlying the findings that will to exist, live, survive and fight (WTELS-F) optimizes executive functions. Defining executive functions (EF) as having cold (working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility) and hot (e.g., motivation) components, we hypothesized that WTELS-F affects executive functions positively via two pathways. The first pathway is through the hot executive function (motivation), and the second is via survival or existential processing. In a longitudinal study of 228 adult participants two times with ten weeks in between, we used measures for WTELS-F, working memory, inhibition, shift/cognitive flexibility, and self-motivation. We tested the structural validity of the four factors’ executive function by exploratory factor analysis in time 1 data and confirmatory factor analysis in time 2 data. We conducted structural equation modeling WTELS-F change as a latent variable predicted by the change in its three components between times 1 and 2., affecting changes in self-motivation (the hot EF), and changes in the latent variable of cold EF as predicted by changes in working memory, inhibition, and shift. Results indicated that the model of EF fit the data well without modification. WTELS-F significantly affected self-motivation (the hot EF) and the cold EF longitudinally. It had further mediated effects on cold EF via its impact on self-motivation. The results provided evidence for the two pathways hypothesis of the effects of WTELS-F on EF. The conceptual and clinical implications of these findings were discussed. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10339-023-01128-2.

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Are the main effects of the will to exist, live, survive and fight on optimizing executive function due to its optimizing self-motivation? A longitudinal study

Kira

Shuwiekh

2023

Cogn Process

Self Cite

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Hidden scars: the persistent multifaceted health and psychosocial consequences for Syrian torture survivors

Rizkalla,

Alsamman,

Bakr

et al. 2024

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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Background: The impact on the physical and mental health of those who survived torture and their close circles in the Syrian regime’s detention facilities remains under-studied. Objective: This qualitative study explored Syrian refugees’ narrations of captivity and torture, and the consequences of such extreme traumatic events on their physical and psychosocial health. Method: Thirteen audio-recorded interviews were conducted in Arabic with Syrian refugees. Study participants were at least 19 years of age, resided in diverse urban areas of Jordan, had experienced captivity and torture in Syrian detention facilities, and voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. Participation was anonymous, only oral consent was required, and no incentives were provided to participants. Interviews were transcribed and translated into English by a team of researchers, followed by analysis of repetitive themes according to the narrative paradigm. Results: Analysis of interviews elicited three major themes: extreme traumatic experiences of torture, and its physical and psychosocial health consequences. The first major theme was divided into two sub-themes: torture experienced by the participants themselves, and torture experienced by participants’ close circles. The second major theme, pertaining to physical health, was divided into two sub-themes: acute and chronic health sequelae. The third major theme, related to psychosocial health, was divided into four sub-themes: mental health symptomatology, impacts on professional life, impacts on interpersonal relationships, and social consequences. Conclusions: Torture experiences of Syrian refugees had adverse consequences for the physical and psychosocial health, functioning, and the overall well-being of survivors and their close circles. Interventions may seek to improve both the acute and chronic health consequences, as well as the mental health symptoms and associated impacts on livelihood, professional, and relationship dynamics. They should span clinical, legal, and advocacy spheres, given that a holistic approach may contribute immensely to survivors’ healing process.

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Are torture survivors more resilient and develop higher PTG, than nontortured refugees?: The role of will to exist, live, and survive: A replication and extension.

Cited by 2 publications

References 19 publications

Are the main effects of the will to exist, live, survive and fight on optimizing executive function due to its optimizing self-motivation? A longitudinal study

Are the main effects of the will to exist, live, survive and fight on optimizing executive function due to its optimizing self-motivation? A longitudinal study

Hidden scars: the persistent multifaceted health and psychosocial consequences for Syrian torture survivors

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