Abstract
M.A.
The current social and political situation in South Africa has resulted in an
extremely violent climate in which the incidence of highly stressful events
experienced by people on the whole is extremely high. The severe and
pathological negative symptoms that often follow the experience of highly
stressful events are defined as Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders - IV (DSM-IV)(APA,
1994). An improved understanding of the factors involved in the development,
treatment and prevention of PTSD is important considering the potentially
debilitating effects of this disorder.
With the increasing emphasis being placed on 'positive' psychology, the
salutogenic orientation was given focus in this study. Antonovsky (1979, 1987)
defines salutogenesis as 'the origins of health', and the emphasis is on
identifying those factors in which health originates and is promoted.
This study aimed to investigate two specific variables, sense of coherence
(Antonovsky, 1979, 1987) and self-efficacy (Bandura, 1977, 1986) as two
potential psychological resilience factors that may positively contribute to
effective functioning after the experience of a highly traumatic event.
The research tested a postulated model which suggested that the two resilience
variables influence the presentation of PTSD symptoms after exposure to a
traumatic event. The research was conducted in a police and banking
environment with 50 participants, all of whom had experienced a traumatic event
as defined by the criteria in the DSM-IV. Three measuring instruments were used
to measure the constructs of interest. PTSD symptomatology was measured by
means of Horowitz's "Impact of Events Scale - Revised" (Weiss & Marmar,
1997), self-efficacy in the face of a traumatic event was measured by means of a
specific questionnaire constructed by the researcher for this study (SEFTE), and
sense of coherence was measured by means of Antonovsky's "Orientation to
Life" questionnaire, or Sense of Coherence Scale (1983).
The results of the study indicated that a relationship does exist between the three
constructs of interest. A higher sense of coherence. contributes to higher selfefficacy
expectations in the face of a traumatic event, and both these variables
reduce the level of PTSD symptomatology after exposure to a traumatic event.
In conclusion, the importance of understanding some of the psychological
resilience factors which may help to prevent PTSD after exposure to a traumatic
event, or at least reduce the severity of the symptoms, was highlighted. By doing
so, emphasis can be moved from the treatment of PTSD after the event, to the
prevention of the disorder, by strengthening the resilience of those people at risk
of exposure to a highly traumatic event, before the event occurs.