Traumatic experience has overall far reaching consequences on personality. In particular,
it has significant impact on teenagers that are just approaching the phase of
solving their identity problems. This research examines the relation of traumatic experience
and attitude towards the future in two groups of adolescents. The first group consists
of 20 adolescents-refugees from the East Slavonia that were settled in Rijeka area
with their parents during the last six years. The second group consists of 20 adolescent’s
local inhabitants that were influenced by the war only indirectly. Results show significant
difference between refugees and non-refugees in expressed interpersonal trust, frustration
tolerance, and formation of close contacts, adaptability, precaution, bitterness,
and social desirability. Both groups show increased depression, pessimism and poor
self-control. This might be considered as general characteristic of society in war

I. Rončević-Gr\u27eta

I. Urlić

Lj. MoroI. Torić

T. Frančišković

T. Tić-Bačić

English

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Coll. Antropol. 24 (2000) 2: xx–xxUDC ???????????????Original scientific paperThe Impact of Traumatic Experienceon Attitude Towards Future inRefugee AdolescentsT. Fran~i{kovi}1, Lj. Moro1,I. Tori}2, I. Urli}3, I. Ron~evi}-Gr’eta2 and T.Ti}-Ba~i}21 Medical School, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia2 Psychiatric Clinic, University Hospital Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia3 Medical School, University of Split, Split, CroatiaA B S T R A C TTraumatic experience has overall far reaching consequences on personality. In par-ticular, it has significant impact on teenagers that are just approaching the phase ofsolving their identity problems. This research examines the relation of traumatic experi-ence and attitude towards the future in two groups of adolescents. The first group con-sists of 20 adolescents-refugees from the East Slavonia that were settled in Rijeka areawith their parents during the last six years. The second group consists of 20 adolescent’slocal inhabitants that were influenced by the war only indirectly. Results show signifi-cant difference between refugees and non-refugees in expressed interpersonal trust, frus-tration tolerance, and formation of close contacts, adaptability, precaution, bitterness,and social desirability. Both groups show increased depression, pessimism and poorself-control. This might be considered as general characteristic of society in war.IntroductionWar, as a traumatic situation, in manyways affects individuals, families, and so-ciety as a whole, and represents source ofall types, most often multiple traumaticevents, which are outside usual experi-ence for great part of population1. Post-traumatic events and psychical sequel,same for adults as for children and ado-lescents, depends on character of trauma,personal psychical resources and socialsupport2,3. Traumatic experiences towhich children and adolescents are mostoften exposed in the war are separationfrom members of their families, refuge,observation of fear and weakness of par-ents, death of a close member of the fam-1Received for publication October 19, 1999.ily, bombing and other indirect menace oflife, economic destruction of the familyand similar.According to our experience and liter-ature response to children and adoles-cents, trauma includes number of reac-tions from which the PTSD entity is onlyone form of reaction 4–11. So that indirectreaction to trauma shall have its charac-teristics, effects shall be different if theyseek help several months later, whilelong term response to trauma will becharacterized, among other, by deviationof developing phases, change of individu-ality and other.During the war, parents, teachers,friends and others are themselves af-fected by war, misfortunes in differentways and are not capable to follow needsof a child and adolescent and to give themadequate support. Social structures andstructures of community become dam-aged or destroyed, and the whole systemof social functioning becomes compro-mised and is no longer in position to rep-resent »protective membrane«. In suchsurroundings the adolescents are very of-ten pushed in situation to take over therole of »premature grown-ups« withintraumatized family, which essentially in-fluences development of identity and cre-ation of self-picture 9. On the other hand,they already possess capacity for under-standing of traumatic situation withoutillusion about being free from injury.Their basic supposition about the worldas a safe place, about the fact that deathhappens to others, and that there is al-ways somebody who will help, because es-sentially endangered by trauma, addi-tionally damage feeling of omnipotence.The aim of the work was to determinewhether refuge influences on degree ofestablishment of maturity, which is ex-pressed in individual dimension of per-sonality or attitude towards self, environ-ment, and future. Therefore we wanted tofind out whether adolescent refugees aredifferent from adolescents who had notgone through refuge in consideration ofreadiness for cooperation, unselfishness,trust in people and frustration level.Respondents and MethodsCriterion group consisted of the group(N=20) of adolescents refugees fromVukovar, students of final grades of sec-ondary school, age between 18 and 19,who had been settled for almost 6 yearsin the organized shelter with their fami-lies in the part of Croatia which had notbeen indirectly affected by war destruc-tion. Their traumatic experience is ref-uge, separation from members of theirfamilies for longer time (mainly father,who was most often captured or on thefront), loss of members of the family, fearand inadequate reaction of parents,bombing immediately before their depar-ture from Vukovar and other life aggra-vated situations, including economic de-privation of the family.Comparison group consisted also ofadolescents of domicile population equalto age and sex, affected by war indirectlythrough information, economic depriva-tion, and enlistment of their family mem-bers for the front. Respondents of bothgroups did not show any psychopathologyand members of their families and teach-ers as an adequate one evaluated theirfunctioning within the family and school.Respondents ware examined together inform of questionnaires and scale, and thefollowing were adopted:a) Scale of trust in peopleb) Scale of readiness for cooperationc) Scale of unselfishnessd) Scale of tolerance on frustratione) Plutchik Profile Index Emotions,which tests the following dimension ofpersonality:sociability, trust, and impossibility tocontrol, caution, pessimism-depression,criticality,2D. Knezovi} Zlatari} et al.: Partial Denture Therapy, Coll. Antropol. 24 (2000) 2: xxx-xxxself-control, aggression and social de-sirability.The first four scales were constructedfor purposes of this questionnaire, andconsist of 20 units. The results are evalu-ated by summary of changes on units,with use of Likert type scale of 4 levels (ato d).ResultsMeans, standard deviations, and stan-dard deviations for self reports of trust,willing for cooperation, unselfishness andfrustration tolerance are present in theTable 1, together with t-test for signifi-cance.According to this study, adoles-cents-refugees show greater lack of trusttowards people (t=2.92, p. 0.01, df=38)and significantly poorer frustration toler-ance (t=1.21, p. 005, df=38). Scoresachieved on Plutchick’s Emotion ProfileIndex are transformed, according tonorms, in three categories: unsociable,avoiding contacts not found of being closeto people.Thus, partly developed trait havethose who score between 0 to 40, nor-mally developed trait scores from 40 to60, and highly developed bipolar dimen-sion considers scores from 60 to 100. Sig-nificance tested with Chi square is pre-sented in the Table 2.Statistically significant differencesare found in dimensions of reproduction,incorporation, uncontrollability,self-protection, aggression and bias, allon the level.001 to.005 (df=2). On dimen-sion of deprivation, negativism and explo-ration there were no statistically signifi-cant differences found.Refugee adolescents tend to avoid so-cial contacts and close interpersonal rela-tions, and behave less socially (Chisquare=26.71, df=2). Refugee adolescentshave lack of trust in people less then local(Chi square=6.3, p<. 005, df=2). They donot take things and events for granted.Refugee experience adolescents grouptends towards stability and security andshow less plasticity and adaptability thenlocal adolescents (Chi square=18.44, p<.001, df=2)Statistically significant differencesare found in the dimension ofself-protection too (Chi square=18.44,p<.001). Refugee adolescents are morecautions, horrified, sensitive, frightenedand anxious. They care for other people’sopinion, while domicile adolescents areless anxious and cautious. Still, on di-mension of deprivation (Chi square=1.4),negativism (Chi square=0,) and explora-tion (Chi square=0, df=2) there was nostatistical differences between the twogroups. Both groups show increased de-pression and pessimism, have lowerself-control and are less critical towardsthem.Generally, refugee adolescents aremore aggressive, show more extreme re-actions, they are more passive and with-out life expectations, bitter and full ofrage (Chi square=7.5, p<. 005, df=2) Ref-ugee adolescents tend to have less so-cially desirable self evaluations then do-micile ones (Chi square=20.94, p<. 001,df=2).TABLE 1.MEANS, STANDARD DEVIATIONSAND T-TEST FOR FOUR SUBSCALESTHAT MEASURE THE ATTITUDE TO-WARDS THE FUTURESCALE REF-UGEESLOCAL t-testtrust 10 7 2.92 **frustrationtolerance3 4 1.21 *willingnessto help14 14unselfish-ness7 73D. Knezovi} Zlatari} et al.: Partial Denture Therapy, Coll. Antropol. 24 (2000) 2: xxx-xxx___________________Level of significance:**.001*.005TABLE 2.FREQUENCIES OF SUBJECTSTHAT SCORED LOW NORMALORHIGH OF EACH DIMENSION OF WITHCHI-SQUARES COUNTED BETWEENGROUPSREF-UGEESLOCALPIE di-mensionslow normal highlow normal high Chisquarereproduc-tion6 6 71 10 9 26.71**incorpora-tion5 2 122 5 12 6.3*uncontrol-lability13 4 48 6 6 18.44**self-protection6 1 138 7 6 18.44**depriva-tion6 2 126 5 9 1.4negativism 10 5 510 5 5 0exploration16 2 216 2 2 0aggression 5 5 102 10 8 7.5*BIAS 10 2 83 8 9 20.94**DiscussionResults obtained on the scale in con-sideration of trust of people show thatrefugee adolescents are less trustful to-ward people then domicile ones, whichmeans that refugee adolescents do notwork through previous phases of develop-ment in order to resolve identity process.Refugee adolescents had experienced dif-ferent traumas with existing capacity forunderstanding; they are no longer in thephase of idealization and omnipotence1,12.They understand how much they dependon the group and have need for repara-tion of the object, lack trust in their envi-ronment, but rather incline to isolationand show lesser degree of tolerance onfrustration on mentioned scale. It demon-strates that they use regressive mecha-nisms of defense because of fear from re-lapse of frustration, causing destructionof self-structure, and that experience pre-vents them from trying to repair their selfthrough relationship with the wider sur-roundings.On the scale of readiness for coopera-tion and that of unselfishness betweenrefugee adolescents and domicile onesthere are no significant difference. Itgives us hope that trauma after all hadnot destroyed their basic developingneeds, although due to traumatic eventsthey were stopped and deviated from thenormal development.On basis of the PIE test we discoverthe background of obtained results onabove mentioned scales. Their distrust inpeople created by traumatic events led tounsociable behavior of refugee adoles-cents, registered in PIE test. They ex-press pronounced striving for isolationand withdrawal from social surround-ings, and do not make close interpersonalrelations, which reconfirms that theystopped with their development. Theyhave no need to exercise separation.There is an obvious fear not toreexperience disappointment in people.They have only selective friendship, refu-gees with refugees. One who had experi-enced an early trauma knows how muchit hurts and believes that only adolescent4D. Knezovi} Zlatari} et al.: Partial Denture Therapy, Coll. Antropol. 24 (2000) 2: xxx-xxxwith the same experience can understandhim. On the contrary, domicile adoles-cents show usual adolescent curiosity andneed to associate, they are curious, im-pulsive, like surprises and incline to ad-ventures.Level of significance:**.001*.005Domicile adolescent’s work on theirearlier phases of development in order toachieve individualization. Refugees, onthe other hand, aspire to stability and se-curity, they are less plastic and do notlike changes, they constantly worry not tofell in any difficulties, especially in thosethey cannot overcome, keep the pictureabout themselves and are fixed tothe remaining of symbolic needs, asthough they always check their positionin relation to reality. They are scare, cau-tioned. Domicile adolescents incline torisk, because they do not have such trau-matic experience which would stop themin their constant testing of separationfrom parents and seeking their place inwider environment. This community is infact part of their self, which is not thecase with refugee ones. Risk of separationfrom parents domicile adolescents acceptand test in everyday life, while refugeeadolescents avoid it.This age of development even freefrom trauma is chaotic and disorganized,however, at the same time there is a hugeneed that in this chaos an adolescentfinds new strong point in outside the fam-ily circle within the wider social environ-ment, and those are their adolescentgroups13,14. Refugee adolescents do notpractice that. Seeing themselves in thefuture means to build a picture of a newmember in the future social community.Experienced trauma, but also war stress,as a general everyday life, left the traceon the entire refugee adolescent popula-tion. There is no difference in obtained re-sults relating to dimension of opti-mism-pessimism. Both groups are irreso-lute, nondependent, without any under-taking, liable to past authority because ofmaterial dependence, do not incline tocriticism or refusal. Both groups do notplan future and are disorganized. The dif-ference is in amount of rage which refu-gees openly express while domicile ado-lescents do not. Refugees feel they aresocially unwelcome, while domicile onefinds themselves in socially privileged po-sition. This is their city, their grandpar-ents. The environment is part of their selfand social identity.In traumatized families very often ad-olescents are the ones to overtake the roleof adults, which can give an impression ofgood adaptation14,15. Unwilling to seekand accept any kind of psychological help,on the other hand they represents a »si-lent group«, very often ignored, thereforetheir vulnerability is neglected16,17.ConclusionWe can conclude that refuge traumahas influence on person’s maturity. Trau-matic experience slows down the processof individualization. Therefore we believethat more attention should be paid to thisgroup within refugee psychological helpin order to prevent further consequencesof traumatic experience.REFERENCES1. VIDOVI], V., V. JURE[A, V.RUDAN., Z. BUDANKO, J.[KRINJARI], D. DEZAN, Coll.Antropol. 21 (1997) 269. — 2. GORDONR., R. WRAITH: International Handbookof Traumatic Stress Syndromes (PlenumPress, New York, 1993) 561. — 3.MACKSOUD, M., A. D. YREGROV, M.RAUNDALEN: International Handbookof traumatic Stress Syndromes (PlenumPress, New York, 1993). — 4.HOROWITZ, M., J. of Stress ResponseSyndromes (Northvale, J. Aronson, NewYork, 1986). — 5. MORO, LJ., V.5D. Knezovi} Zlatari} et al.: Partial Denture Therapy, Coll. Antropol. 24 (2000) 2: xxx-xxxVIDOVI]: War Psychology and Psychia-try (GSSRH, Zagreb, 1992). — 6.VIDOVI], V., N. BEGI], LJ. MORO, T.FRAN^I[KOVI], G. TOCILJ, Med. Jad.23 (1993) 13. — 7. GILLILAND, M. K., S.M. [POLJAR VR@INA, V. RUDAN, Coll.Antropol. 19 (1995) 103. — 8. MARTI]BIO^INA, S., S. M. [POLJAR VR@INA,V. RUDAN, Coll. Antropol. 20 (1996) 301.— 9. RUDAN V., Coll. Antropol. 20 (1996)149. — 10. CUFFE, S. P., J. of Am. Ac. ofChild and Adol. Psy. 2 (1998). — 11. MCCLOSKEY, L. A., J. of Am. Ac. of Childand Adol. Psy.1 (2000). — 12. NIKOLI],S.: Mental Disorders in Children and Ad-olescents ([kolska knjiga, Zagreb, 1988).— 13. KULENOVI] M., V. RUDAN, R.KRALJEVI], Coll. Antropol. 18 (1994)337. — 14. KULENOVI], M., V. RUDAN,Z. BUDANKO, N. JOKI], Coll. Antropol.18 (1994) 329. — 15. BECKER D. F., J. ofAm. Ac. of Child and Adol. Psy. 6 (1999).— 16. PYNOOS, R. S., K. NADER: Inter-national Handbook of Traumatic StressSyndromes, (Plenum Press, New York,1993). — 17. SACK, W. H., J. of Am. Ac. ofChild and Adol. Psy. 9 (1999).T. Fran~i{kovi}Medical School, University of Rijeka,Bra}e Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka,CroatiaUTJECAJ TRAUMATSKOGISKUSTVA NA STAV PREMABUDU]NOSTI U ADOLESCENATAPROGNANIKASA@ETAKTraumatsko iskustvo na mnogona~ina utje~e na osobnost. Posebice se toodnosi na adolescente koji se razvojnoupravo nalaze u fazi razrije{avanjaproblema identiteta.U ovom istra’ivanju ispituje se utjecajtraumatskog iskustva na stavove premabudu}nosti u dvije grupe adolescenata.Prvu grupu sa~injava 20 adolescenataprognanika iz Isto~ne Slavonije koji suzbog rata bili smje{teni u rije~koj regiji sasvojim obiteljima tijekom {est godina.Drugu grupu sa~injava 20 adolescenatalokalnog stanovni{va koji su ratnimzbivanjima bili pogo|eni samo posredno.Primjenjene su 4 skale: skala povjerenja u ljude, skala spremnosti za suradnju,skala nesebi~nosti i skala toleranije na frustraciju konstruirane za potrebe ove studije iPIE test. Rezultati pokazuju zna~ajnu razliku izme|u ove dvije skupine adolescenata uinterpersonalnom povjerenju, toleranciji na frustracije, na~inu formiranja bliskihrelacija, prilagodljivosti, opreznosti,gor~ini i osje}aju socijalne po’eljnosti. Obije grupeiskazuju povi{en nivo depresivnosti, pesimizam i slabu samokontrolu. To se mo’edjelomi~no shvatiti kao op}enita zna~ajka dru{tva u pora}u.6D. Knezovi} Zlatari} et al.: Partial Denture Therapy, Coll. Antropol. 24 (2000) 2: xxx-xxx

The Impact of Traumatic Experience on Attitude Towards Future in Refugee Adolescents

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