Journal of Medical & Surgical Pathology
Open Access

The effect of peer support groups on family adaptation from the perspective of wives of war veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder

Joint Event on 15^th International Conference on Surgical Pathology and Cancer Diagnosis & 4^th International Conference on General Practice & Primary Care

April 15-16, 2019 Berlin, Germany

Mojtaba Gholami

Iran

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Med Surg Pathol

Abstract :

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of peer group support on family adaptation of wives of war veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Design & Sample: In this randomized controlled trial, 80 wives of war veterans with PTSD were incorporated and selected participants were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups (n=40 per group). The intervention group was divided into four subgroups, with each participating in eight weekly based 1.5-hr peer support group sessions and the control group received no intervention.

Measures: Demographics form and family adaptation scale (FAS) developed by Antonovsky and Sourani (1988) were applied.

Results: The total mean scores of family adaptation increased significantly more in the intervention group than in the control group (p=.033). Furthermore, the time × group interaction effects were significant for internal family fit (p=.013) and a combination of both family fit and family community fit (p=.020) dimensions. Nonetheless family fit dimensions mean scores had no significant increase in the intervention group than the control group over time (p=.948).

Conclusion: Peer support group can be a useful tool for health care professionals to enhance family adaptation in spouses of war veterans with PTSD.