Family functioning, coping, and psychological adjustment in victims and their families following kidnapping

Abstract

This study examines the psychological aftereffects of economic extortive kidnapping on families during captivity, and on kidnapped individuals and family members, 2-4, 5-8, and 9-15 months after the release. Fifty-five kidnapped and released individuals and 158 family members were evaluated through CAPS-DX, SCL90-R, FAD, F-COPES, and a family interview. Captivity was the most stressful period with the highest CAPS and general distress scores. There were no significant differences in psychological distress or in PTSD between the 3 time groups after the release or between kidnapped individuals and their relatives. Correlations among family functioning, coping, and psychological adjustment, during captivity and after the release were analyzed.

Neuroticism, Extraversion, Perceived Social Support, and Escape Television Viewing as Determinants of Psychological Distress in Crime Victims

“…For this study, only those respondents who completed the personality measure (administered in the second questionnaire 6 months postcrime) were included, resulting in a sample size of N = 170. The victims in the sample were predominantly female (78.2%), resembling previous research in victim populations (e.g., Navia & Ossa, 2003;Wirtz & Harrell, 1987), and were on average 40.8 years old (SD = 16.6). Respondents' highest level of education ranged from no education or only grade school, 13.3%; the first 3 years of high school, 23.6%; high school, 41.3%; to 3-or 4-year college education, 21.8%.…”

“…Terms & Symptoms of psychological distress are common following criminal victimization. Numerous studies have found crime victims to display higher levels of depression, anxiety, distrust of others, and hostility toward others (Blaauw, Winkel, Arensman, Sheridan, & Freeve, 2002;Krakow et al, 2002), and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Dunmore, Clark, & Ehlers, 2001;Gray & Acierno, 2002;McDermut, Haaga, & Kirk, 2000;Navia & Ossa, 2003;Ullman & Filipas, 2001) in the days, weeks, and months following victimization. However, it has been remarked that the relationship between victimization and the development of psychological sequelae is not linear, because great variability in the onset and maintenance of distress symptoms in crime victims is the rule rather than the exception (for an overview, see Bowman, 1999).…”

Children’s Enduring PTSD Symptoms are Related to Their Family’s Adaptability and Cohesion

“…This type of functioning might be a means of protection in order to recover a feeling of security. Navia and Ossa (2003) also showed that following a kidnapping, people from cohesive family systems that showed interest over each other's concerns and that let their members share their feelings presented less PTSD. Kashani et al (1995) also showed that a child's perception of a low level of family cohesion (disengaged or separated) could be related to a lack of family guidance facilitating the development of depression.…”

Hostage-taking: motives, resolution, coping and effects

“…This important theme cannot be discussed in detail here, but it should be noted that families' reactions may mirror those of the hostages (Navia 2003). In particular, they may suffer badly from the uncertainty of the situation and conflicting information from different sources, for example, employers, police family liaison officers, the media and released hostages.…”