This study investigated posttraumatic stress, family separations and attachment among Latin American immigrants, who were either separated or not separated from family when they immigrated from their native countries. Voluntary participants (n = 82)from 13 countries responded to the Posttraumatic Stress diagnostic Scale and the Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire - Revised. Thirty seven percent of participants had left family behind, either parents (while they were minors), children or spouses in their native countries. There were no differences in traumatic stress symptoms or severity associated with family separation. However,the total sample had a higher incidence of PTSD (22%)than the general population. Those who immigrated as minors had an even higher incidence of PTSD (38%). The majority of participants with such a diagnosis presented with a delayed onset of the condition. The most bothersome kind of traumatic event was exposure to violence. There were no differences on attachment related avoidance, but the family separated group scored significantly higher on attachment related anxiety than the non-separated group. Attachment related avoidance was significantly related to marital status. Finally, implications for clinical practice and further research were discussed. / Dissertation Submitted to the Department of Family and Child Sciences in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Spring Semester, 2004. / December 3, 2003. / Immigrants, Central Americans, South Americans PTSD, Post traumatic Stress, Latin American, Refugees, Family Separations, Attachment / Includes bibliographical references. / Thomas Cornille, Professor Directing Dissertation; Roberto Fernandez, Outside Committee Member; Mary Hicks, Committee Member; Ann Mullis, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_180327 |
| Contributors | Santa-Maria, Maria L. (authoraut), Cornille, Thomas (professor directing dissertation), Fernandez, Roberto (outside committee member), Hicks, Mary (committee member), Mullis, Ann (committee member), Department of Family and Child Sciences (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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