Mojtaba Gholami
Iran
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Med Surg Pathol
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.
