Longitudinal research has associated the disposition toward self-enhancing biases with better adjustment following potentially traumatic events (PTEs). However, self-enhancement was always measured in these studies after the PTE, thus confounding it with exposure. This study used a prospective design that tracked PTEs in college students over a 4-year period using an online checklist (n = 69). Most participants experienced at least 1 PTE, and the mean number of PTEs was 4.40.

The aim of the present study was to assess and understand the long-term trajectory of psychological problems among young Middle Eastern refugees in Denmark. Participants were 131 young refugees from the Middle East (76 girls, 55 boys, mean age = 15.3 years) from 67 families. They were assessed first on arrival in Denmark in 1992-1993 and again 8-9 years later. The high prevalence of psychological problems at arrival was considerably reduced by the time of follow-up, but it was still somewhat higher than what has been found in most community studies using the same assessment tools.

AbstractTruth telling has come to play a pivotal role in postconflict reconciliation processes around the world. A common claim is that truth telling is healing and will lead to reconciliation. The present study applies recent psychological research to this issue by examining whether witnessing in the gacaca, the Rwandan village tribunals for truth and reconciliation after the 1994 genocide, was beneficial for psychological health.

Oorlogsslachtoffers worden in veel (maar zeker niet alle) Europese landen direct gezien en opgevangen als mogelijke traumapatiënten. In 1945 was het woord trauma nog onbekend en de posttraumatische stressstoornis nog niet uitgevonden. Hoe dacht men in die tijd over de mogelijke gezondheidsschade van bijvoorbeeld kampoverlevenden, ex-gevangenen en militairen? Welke groepen slachtoffers konden in de diverse landen aanspraak maken op medische en financiële zorg?