I was reading this report called ''Comparing psychological responses of
internally displaced and non-displaced Turkish Cypriots ''
and I wanted share with forum members .
Deniz Ergun, MSc, Mehmet Çakici, MD, PhD & Ebru Çakici, MD, PhD
Abstract
During the 1963-1964 ethnic conflict and 1974
war in Cyprus, many Turkish Cypriots were displaced
by Greek Cypriot forces. The psychological
condition of Turkish Cypriots after these conflicts
has not been studied to the present day. At the
time of the Annan Plan Referendum on April 24th
2004, when people on both sides were to decide
whether to reunite or not, and when old traumatic
events were being discussed in vivid detail, the psychological
responses of the internally displaced and
non-displaced Turkish Cypriots were investigated.
The sample of this study derived from a sample
of a larger household survey study conducted
on 408 adult people taken randomly from three
different districts. People who settled down in
Cyprus after 1974 or who had never experienced
a war in Cyprus were not included in the study.
129 Turkish Cypriots who experienced either the
1963-64 conflict or the 1974 war were included in
the present study. 86 of these had been displaced.
The first part of the questionnaire that was administered
to the subjects included demographic
characteristics, war-related traumatic experiences,
the level of seriousness, and traumatic incidents
resulting from other circumstances. In the second
part of the questionnaire, the Traumatic Stress
Symptom Checklist (TSSC) and Brief Symptom
Inventory (BSI) were used to investigate the
symptoms of the post-traumatic process.
The outcomes indicate that the internally
displaced persons (IDPs) were subjected to
traumatic incidents at a higher degree due to killing,
displacement, captivity, or killing of family
members and relatives. The rate of posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) of IDPs is 20%, and is significantly
higher than for non-displaced persons.
The comparison of BSI subscales show that IDPs
had a higher level of depression scores than the
non-displaced persons. The somatization subscale
scores are higher in non-displaced persons.
The study reveals a higher frequency of
war-related traumatic events in IDPs than in
non-displaced people, greater suffering from posttraumatic
stress and more negative beliefs about
future reunion.
Keywords: internal displacement, PTSD, Cyprus
conflict
Introduction
The definition of internally displaced persons is given by the Representative of the
Secretary General on Internally Displaced
Persons as followed: “Persons or groups of
persons who have been forced or obliged
to flee or to leave their homes or places of
habitual residence, in particular as a result
of or in order to avoid the effects of armed
conflict, situation of generalized violence,
violation of human rights or natural or man-made disasters; and who have not crossed an
internationally recognized state border.”1
Although many studies have focused on
refugees’ traumatic experiences and the effects
of these experiences on their mental condition
as well as on their process of adaptation to
their new environments, internally displaced
people (IDP) have received much less attention.
The United States High Commission for
Refugees stated that by the end of 2004, approximately
35.5 million of the world’s population
had been forced to leave their homes
due to organized violence. Nearly 23.6 million
people became IDPs and 11.9 million left
their countries to become refugees.2
Displaced and non-displaced Turkish Cypriots
38 posts
• Page 1 of 4 • 1, 2, 3, 4
Displaced and non-displaced Turkish Cypriots
by halil » Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:10 pm
- halil
- Main Contributor
- Posts: 8804
- Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2007 2:21 pm
- Location: nicosia
by halil » Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:17 pm
Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean
Sea, has long suffered from foreign domination
and ethnic conflict. The ethnic conflict
between the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek
Cypriot communities has been continuing
for more than 40 years. The displacement
of Cypriots can be traced to two important
political incidents.
The first of these incidents was the intercommunal
violence of 1964. Approximately
20,000 Turkish Cypriots were forced to
move to Turkish Cypriot enclaves. Twentyfour
Turkish villages and Turkish houses in
seventy-two mixed villages were abandoned.
Most of these movements seem to have been
caused by fear, but in some cases the people
involved were forced to leave.3
The second wave of displacement came
in July-August 1974. When the military
junta of Greece removed the legal president,
Turkey intervened in Cyprus in July 1974. It
is reported that 180,000 to 200,000 Greek
Cypriots fled to the south and approximately
50,000 to 60,000 Turkish Cypriots, many of
whom had been displaced before,3 escaped
to the north.
In over 30 years, 210,000 ethnic Greek
and Turkish Cypriots have been internally
displaced, the longest-standing internal
displacement situation in Europe. The internally
displaced people (IDPs) are no longer
in need of humanitarian aid in Cyprus unlike
in the vast majority of protracted displacements
in the world. On both sides of
the island, the IDPs are helped to integrate
into the community by the respective authorities.
In the South, IDPs have received
much support from the Greek Cypriot
government through special programmes
that include social and tax benefits. In the
North, the Turkish Cypriot government has
allocated properties abandoned by the Greek
Cypriot owners to the displaced people.4
The Annan Plan was a United Nations
proposal aimed at settling the Cyprus dispute
and uniting the divided island as the
United Cyprus Republic.5 In the 2004 referendum
on the Annan Plan, 75 percent of
Greek Cypriots voted “no” because of their
perception that the Annan Plan was biased
and excessively pro-Turkish. On the other
hand, 65 percent of Turkish Cypriots were
willing to accept it as they believed it would
end their prolonged international isolation
and exclusion from the European economy.
The aim of this study is to investigate the
psychological responses of the internally displaced
and non-displaced Turkish Cypriots in
the period when the two communities were
voting for and against reunification and when
the old traumatic events of the past were high
on the agenda. We aim to investigate 1) the
prevalence of posttraumatic stress and other
psychological symptoms within the IDPs
compared with the control group, 2) the attitudes
of IDPs for the future and reunification
compared with the control group.
Method
Sample: The sample of this study is derived
from a sample of a larger household survey
study conducted on 408 people taken randomly
from three different districts.6 A stratified sampling quota was used for the purpose
of comparison and to keep the samples
from each district as similar as possible. Age
(35 and older), gender (male/female), nationality
(Turkish Cypriot) and geographical
region (Alayköy/Gönyeli/Lapta) were used as
strata. Alayköy was a predominantly Greek
village where most of the houses belonged
to Greek Cypriots before 1974. After the
1974 Turkish military intervention, Turkish
Cypriots who were forced to leave their own
houses in the South were given these houses
by the Turkish Cypriot government. Lapta
village had the same history. Gönyeli was a
Turkish Cypriot village in the past and the
population was not displaced. 129 people
who are originally Turkish Cypriots and who
had experienced at least one war in Cyprus
participated in the present study. 158 people
were left out of the study because they had
settled down in Cyprus after 1974 and 121
people were eliminated because they had
never experienced a war in Cyprus.
Procedure: In this cross-sectional survey,
face to face interviews were conducted by
volunteer fourth year students studying at
the Psychology Department of Near East
University in Northern Cyprus. Before conducting
the interviews, each student was
trained about the content of the questions
and how they should apply. The data were
collected over a period of two weeks.
Interviewers proceeded in a specific
order when selecting households in order
to eliminate interviewer bias. First they
started from the centre of the villages and
went north, east, south and west and covered
squares. That is to say, they started at
the house with the lowest number on the
right-hand side of a street and went to every
third house. At the first turning, they would
turn right and would continue contacting
households on the right-hand side until they
covered the whole square. Then they would
proceed to the next square and followed the
same procedure.
Instruments: The interview comprised
four parts administered in the following sequence:
The first part of the questionnaire was
about socio-demographic factors and pertinent
background information. The questions
were designed to obtain data on sex, age,
marital status, level of education, employment
details, monthly income, location
of the house, the legal status of the house
(whether or not their house belonged to a
Greek Cypriot), whether or not the district
will be given back to the Greek Cypriots according
to Annan Plan provisions and also
the opinions of the participants about their
anticipated sense of security and socio-economic
status in the case of Greek Cypriots
settling in North Cyprus.
The second part of the questionnaire included
questions designed by the researcher
to determine any previous trauma history as
regards to childhood abuse, natural disaster,
fire or explosion, traffic accidents, physical
or sexual assault, presence in a war or internal
conflict area, torture or similar maltreatment,
events like murder or suicide, sudden
death of a loved one, sudden separation
from a loved one, family violence, sudden
loss of a job or severe financial difficulties,
workplace accident, or any other stressful
events. War-related experiences were also investigated
according to the type and severity
of traumatic events. Questions were yes/no
type and enquired about experiences related
to hearing, witnessing and experiencing displacement,
injury, imprisonment or death of
friends, relatives, family members and self.
The third part of the questionnaire
included the Traumatic Stress Symptom
Checklist (TSSC) to determine posttraumatic
symptoms. The checklist was
composed of 17 items related to DSM-IV
Sea, has long suffered from foreign domination
and ethnic conflict. The ethnic conflict
between the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek
Cypriot communities has been continuing
for more than 40 years. The displacement
of Cypriots can be traced to two important
political incidents.
The first of these incidents was the intercommunal
violence of 1964. Approximately
20,000 Turkish Cypriots were forced to
move to Turkish Cypriot enclaves. Twentyfour
Turkish villages and Turkish houses in
seventy-two mixed villages were abandoned.
Most of these movements seem to have been
caused by fear, but in some cases the people
involved were forced to leave.3
The second wave of displacement came
in July-August 1974. When the military
junta of Greece removed the legal president,
Turkey intervened in Cyprus in July 1974. It
is reported that 180,000 to 200,000 Greek
Cypriots fled to the south and approximately
50,000 to 60,000 Turkish Cypriots, many of
whom had been displaced before,3 escaped
to the north.
In over 30 years, 210,000 ethnic Greek
and Turkish Cypriots have been internally
displaced, the longest-standing internal
displacement situation in Europe. The internally
displaced people (IDPs) are no longer
in need of humanitarian aid in Cyprus unlike
in the vast majority of protracted displacements
in the world. On both sides of
the island, the IDPs are helped to integrate
into the community by the respective authorities.
In the South, IDPs have received
much support from the Greek Cypriot
government through special programmes
that include social and tax benefits. In the
North, the Turkish Cypriot government has
allocated properties abandoned by the Greek
Cypriot owners to the displaced people.4
The Annan Plan was a United Nations
proposal aimed at settling the Cyprus dispute
and uniting the divided island as the
United Cyprus Republic.5 In the 2004 referendum
on the Annan Plan, 75 percent of
Greek Cypriots voted “no” because of their
perception that the Annan Plan was biased
and excessively pro-Turkish. On the other
hand, 65 percent of Turkish Cypriots were
willing to accept it as they believed it would
end their prolonged international isolation
and exclusion from the European economy.
The aim of this study is to investigate the
psychological responses of the internally displaced
and non-displaced Turkish Cypriots in
the period when the two communities were
voting for and against reunification and when
the old traumatic events of the past were high
on the agenda. We aim to investigate 1) the
prevalence of posttraumatic stress and other
psychological symptoms within the IDPs
compared with the control group, 2) the attitudes
of IDPs for the future and reunification
compared with the control group.
Method
Sample: The sample of this study is derived
from a sample of a larger household survey
study conducted on 408 people taken randomly
from three different districts.6 A stratified sampling quota was used for the purpose
of comparison and to keep the samples
from each district as similar as possible. Age
(35 and older), gender (male/female), nationality
(Turkish Cypriot) and geographical
region (Alayköy/Gönyeli/Lapta) were used as
strata. Alayköy was a predominantly Greek
village where most of the houses belonged
to Greek Cypriots before 1974. After the
1974 Turkish military intervention, Turkish
Cypriots who were forced to leave their own
houses in the South were given these houses
by the Turkish Cypriot government. Lapta
village had the same history. Gönyeli was a
Turkish Cypriot village in the past and the
population was not displaced. 129 people
who are originally Turkish Cypriots and who
had experienced at least one war in Cyprus
participated in the present study. 158 people
were left out of the study because they had
settled down in Cyprus after 1974 and 121
people were eliminated because they had
never experienced a war in Cyprus.
Procedure: In this cross-sectional survey,
face to face interviews were conducted by
volunteer fourth year students studying at
the Psychology Department of Near East
University in Northern Cyprus. Before conducting
the interviews, each student was
trained about the content of the questions
and how they should apply. The data were
collected over a period of two weeks.
Interviewers proceeded in a specific
order when selecting households in order
to eliminate interviewer bias. First they
started from the centre of the villages and
went north, east, south and west and covered
squares. That is to say, they started at
the house with the lowest number on the
right-hand side of a street and went to every
third house. At the first turning, they would
turn right and would continue contacting
households on the right-hand side until they
covered the whole square. Then they would
proceed to the next square and followed the
same procedure.
Instruments: The interview comprised
four parts administered in the following sequence:
The first part of the questionnaire was
about socio-demographic factors and pertinent
background information. The questions
were designed to obtain data on sex, age,
marital status, level of education, employment
details, monthly income, location
of the house, the legal status of the house
(whether or not their house belonged to a
Greek Cypriot), whether or not the district
will be given back to the Greek Cypriots according
to Annan Plan provisions and also
the opinions of the participants about their
anticipated sense of security and socio-economic
status in the case of Greek Cypriots
settling in North Cyprus.
The second part of the questionnaire included
questions designed by the researcher
to determine any previous trauma history as
regards to childhood abuse, natural disaster,
fire or explosion, traffic accidents, physical
or sexual assault, presence in a war or internal
conflict area, torture or similar maltreatment,
events like murder or suicide, sudden
death of a loved one, sudden separation
from a loved one, family violence, sudden
loss of a job or severe financial difficulties,
workplace accident, or any other stressful
events. War-related experiences were also investigated
according to the type and severity
of traumatic events. Questions were yes/no
type and enquired about experiences related
to hearing, witnessing and experiencing displacement,
injury, imprisonment or death of
friends, relatives, family members and self.
The third part of the questionnaire
included the Traumatic Stress Symptom
Checklist (TSSC) to determine posttraumatic
symptoms. The checklist was
composed of 17 items related to DSM-IV
- halil
- Main Contributor
- Posts: 8804
- Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2007 2:21 pm
- Location: nicosia
by halil » Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:19 pm
(66.7%) of them were displaced persons
and 43 (33.3%) of them were non-displaced
persons. There were no statistically significant
differences between displaced and nondisplaced
subjects in terms of age, gender,
marital status, education level or monthly
income (Table 1).
Traumatic Experiences
No significant difference was observed between
displaced and non-displaced subjects
with respect to effects of traumatic events
not related to war during their life time or in
the previous six months.
There were however significant differences
between displaced and non-displaced
persons regarding war-related trauma. Displaced
persons experienced and witnessed
war-related trauma whereas non-displaced
person mostly reported that they heard
about war-related trauma. Displaced persons
reported significantly higher rates of their
relatives being killed (65.1%); family members
being forced to displace (77.6%), taken
as prisoners and killed (43.5%) (Table 2).
For both female and male subjects, there
were statistically significant differences between
displaced and non-displaced persons
in the mean score of TSSC. Whether female
or male, displaced persons’ traumatic stress
symptom scale-PTSD subscale scores or
depression subscale scores were significantly
higher than non-displaced persons (Table 3).
There were statistically significant differences
between displaced and non-displaced
persons in depression and somatization
subscales of Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)
(Table 4). Displaced persons had higher
mean scores of depression symptoms than
non-displaced persons (p=0.022). Non-displaced
persons had higher mean scores of
somatization symptoms than displaced persons
(p=0.032).
45% of displaced persons believed that
their security would deteriorate if they lived
together with Greek Cypriots. 20.9% of
non-displaced persons shared this opinion.
Regarding their opinions about their
socio economic conditions when living with
Greek Cypriots, 31.4% of displaced persons
Variable IDP Non-displaced p
Relatives murdered
Yes 56 (65.1%) 20 (46.5%) χ²=4.099
No 30 (34.9%) 23 (53.5%) p=0.043*
Family member forced displacement
Yes 66 (77.6%) 18 (41.9%) χ²= 16.211
No 19 (22.4%) 25 (58.1%) P=0.000*
Imprisonment of family member
Yes 51 (60.0%) 14 (32.6%) χ²=8.603
No 34 (40.0%) 29 (67.4%) P=0.003*
Family member murdered
Yes 37 (43.5%) 10 (23.3%) χ²=5.051
No 48 (56.5%) 33 (76.7%) p=0.025*
Imprisonment
Yes 19 (22.1%) 3 (7.0%) χ²=4.631
No 67 (77.9%) 40 (93.0%) p=0.031*
Torture
Yes 13 (15.1%) 2 (4.7%) χ²=3.055
No 73 (84.9%) 41 (95.3%) P=0.080
*) p < 0.05 statistically significant
Table 2. Comparison
of war-related trauma
between IDP and Nondisplaced
persons.
and 43 (33.3%) of them were non-displaced
persons. There were no statistically significant
differences between displaced and nondisplaced
subjects in terms of age, gender,
marital status, education level or monthly
income (Table 1).
Traumatic Experiences
No significant difference was observed between
displaced and non-displaced subjects
with respect to effects of traumatic events
not related to war during their life time or in
the previous six months.
There were however significant differences
between displaced and non-displaced
persons regarding war-related trauma. Displaced
persons experienced and witnessed
war-related trauma whereas non-displaced
person mostly reported that they heard
about war-related trauma. Displaced persons
reported significantly higher rates of their
relatives being killed (65.1%); family members
being forced to displace (77.6%), taken
as prisoners and killed (43.5%) (Table 2).
For both female and male subjects, there
were statistically significant differences between
displaced and non-displaced persons
in the mean score of TSSC. Whether female
or male, displaced persons’ traumatic stress
symptom scale-PTSD subscale scores or
depression subscale scores were significantly
higher than non-displaced persons (Table 3).
There were statistically significant differences
between displaced and non-displaced
persons in depression and somatization
subscales of Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)
(Table 4). Displaced persons had higher
mean scores of depression symptoms than
non-displaced persons (p=0.022). Non-displaced
persons had higher mean scores of
somatization symptoms than displaced persons
(p=0.032).
45% of displaced persons believed that
their security would deteriorate if they lived
together with Greek Cypriots. 20.9% of
non-displaced persons shared this opinion.
Regarding their opinions about their
socio economic conditions when living with
Greek Cypriots, 31.4% of displaced persons
Variable IDP Non-displaced p
Relatives murdered
Yes 56 (65.1%) 20 (46.5%) χ²=4.099
No 30 (34.9%) 23 (53.5%) p=0.043*
Family member forced displacement
Yes 66 (77.6%) 18 (41.9%) χ²= 16.211
No 19 (22.4%) 25 (58.1%) P=0.000*
Imprisonment of family member
Yes 51 (60.0%) 14 (32.6%) χ²=8.603
No 34 (40.0%) 29 (67.4%) P=0.003*
Family member murdered
Yes 37 (43.5%) 10 (23.3%) χ²=5.051
No 48 (56.5%) 33 (76.7%) p=0.025*
Imprisonment
Yes 19 (22.1%) 3 (7.0%) χ²=4.631
No 67 (77.9%) 40 (93.0%) p=0.031*
Torture
Yes 13 (15.1%) 2 (4.7%) χ²=3.055
No 73 (84.9%) 41 (95.3%) P=0.080
*) p < 0.05 statistically significant
Table 2. Comparison
of war-related trauma
between IDP and Nondisplaced
persons.
- halil
- Main Contributor
- Posts: 8804
- Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2007 2:21 pm
- Location: nicosia
by halil » Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:22 pm
thought that their socioeconomic condition
would worsen. Only 11.6% of non-displaced
persons expressed the same concern.
Discussion
The findings of the present study indicate
that displaced persons had higher PTSD
symptom scores than non-displaced persons.
In this research, 20% of displaced persons
had PTSD. Population-based studies report
a prevalence of PTSD ranging from 3.5% to
86% among refugee populations (9, 10).
Even though it has been more than 30
years since the war in 1974, the findings of
the study reveal that displaced persons have
higher PTSD scores than non-displaced
persons. This is consistent with the findings
of other similar studies. High rates of PTSD
symptoms many years after the traumatic
event are reported in numerous studies.11-13
PTSD symptoms can also be reactivated
by current stressors which remind subjects
of a posttraumatic event.14 In a study about
refugees from the former Yugoslavia living in
Sweden there was no change in the average
symptom levels during the follow up study
conducted 3 years later. The author reported
that the follow-up ratings were made during
the war in Croatia when the mass media carried
an abundance of reports on atrocities
and that this could well have had a re-traumatizing
effect on the subjects, reactivating
would worsen. Only 11.6% of non-displaced
persons expressed the same concern.
Discussion
The findings of the present study indicate
that displaced persons had higher PTSD
symptom scores than non-displaced persons.
In this research, 20% of displaced persons
had PTSD. Population-based studies report
a prevalence of PTSD ranging from 3.5% to
86% among refugee populations (9, 10).
Even though it has been more than 30
years since the war in 1974, the findings of
the study reveal that displaced persons have
higher PTSD scores than non-displaced
persons. This is consistent with the findings
of other similar studies. High rates of PTSD
symptoms many years after the traumatic
event are reported in numerous studies.11-13
PTSD symptoms can also be reactivated
by current stressors which remind subjects
of a posttraumatic event.14 In a study about
refugees from the former Yugoslavia living in
Sweden there was no change in the average
symptom levels during the follow up study
conducted 3 years later. The author reported
that the follow-up ratings were made during
the war in Croatia when the mass media carried
an abundance of reports on atrocities
and that this could well have had a re-traumatizing
effect on the subjects, reactivating
- halil
- Main Contributor
- Posts: 8804
- Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2007 2:21 pm
- Location: nicosia
by halil » Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:23 pm
symptoms.15 The present study was made
one week before the time of the referendum
on the Annan Plan and during that period
there were images of the 1963-1964 conflict
and 1974 war, and pictures depicting
violence toward Turkish Cypriots by Greek
Cypriots. This could have had a re-traumatizing
effect on displaced persons in North
Cyprus.
The present study indicates that displaced
persons experienced more war-related
traumatic events such as relatives being
murdered, family members being forced to
displace, being taken as prisoners and murdered
than non-displaced persons. Many of
the studies on refugees report that the loss
of a close relative is a predictor of frequency
of PTSD symptoms.16 Furthermore, the frequency
of war-related traumatic events had a
dramatic effect on PTSD symptoms.17
According to the BSI scores, displaced
and non-displaced persons did not show any
psychopathology. The results indicated that
both groups have the ability to cope with
stress. In a study comparing displaced and
non-displaced persons’ coping strategies in
Croatia, the researcher found that displaced
and non-displaced persons use coping strategies
with similar frequency and effectiveness.
18
The present study showed that 8(9.4%)
of displaced and 1(2.3%) of non-displaced
persons had major depression according to
TSSC depression subscale. Displaced persons
had higher scores from non-displaced
persons also at BSI depression subscale.
Most of the population-based studies indicate
rates of depression ranging from 15% to
80% amongst refugees.9, 19-21
The studies which investigated the effect
of different life events on disorders revealed
that people who have experienced loss of a
close relative are especially prone to depression.
22-24 The present study showed that
among displaced persons, 78.8% have suffered
loss of a friend, 65.1% loss of a relative
and 43.5% loss of a family member during
the war. Displaced persons suffered more
losses than non-displaced persons. In addition,
the psychological response to loss of
property could have similar features to the
psychological response to loss of a close person
and might cause a high ratio of depression
symptoms in displaced persons.25
The present study indicated that nondisplaced
persons had higher scores from
BSI somatization subscale. The findings of
a large-scale international study that used
data from 14 countries indicated that the
overall prevalence rate for somatization was
19.7%.26 There are no studies that have
evaluated the prevalence of somatization
in a large community of recently displaced
persons.
However a limited number of studies
have dealt with migrant somatic complaints.
Pang and Lee27 reported 7.3% of somatic
complaints in Korean migrants.27 Ritsner28
reported 21.9% and a high rate of somatic
complaints related to distress in Jewish
migrants in the U.S.28 In a study on the
psychosocial complaints of people forced
into internal displacement in Turkey, it was
reported that 10% of displaced persons had
somatic complaints.25
Another study on the effects of forced
internal displacement in the Southeast of
Turkey showed that displaced persons had a
higher rate of somatic symptoms than nondisplaced
persons.19 In contrast, the present
study revealed that non-displaced persons
had a higher rate of somatic complaints than
displaced persons. The explanation for this
surprising finding is very hard to establish
and requires some examination. Somatic
complaints may appear with current psychosocial
stressors, or if there has been a
chronic somatization the symptom can be
one week before the time of the referendum
on the Annan Plan and during that period
there were images of the 1963-1964 conflict
and 1974 war, and pictures depicting
violence toward Turkish Cypriots by Greek
Cypriots. This could have had a re-traumatizing
effect on displaced persons in North
Cyprus.
The present study indicates that displaced
persons experienced more war-related
traumatic events such as relatives being
murdered, family members being forced to
displace, being taken as prisoners and murdered
than non-displaced persons. Many of
the studies on refugees report that the loss
of a close relative is a predictor of frequency
of PTSD symptoms.16 Furthermore, the frequency
of war-related traumatic events had a
dramatic effect on PTSD symptoms.17
According to the BSI scores, displaced
and non-displaced persons did not show any
psychopathology. The results indicated that
both groups have the ability to cope with
stress. In a study comparing displaced and
non-displaced persons’ coping strategies in
Croatia, the researcher found that displaced
and non-displaced persons use coping strategies
with similar frequency and effectiveness.
18
The present study showed that 8(9.4%)
of displaced and 1(2.3%) of non-displaced
persons had major depression according to
TSSC depression subscale. Displaced persons
had higher scores from non-displaced
persons also at BSI depression subscale.
Most of the population-based studies indicate
rates of depression ranging from 15% to
80% amongst refugees.9, 19-21
The studies which investigated the effect
of different life events on disorders revealed
that people who have experienced loss of a
close relative are especially prone to depression.
22-24 The present study showed that
among displaced persons, 78.8% have suffered
loss of a friend, 65.1% loss of a relative
and 43.5% loss of a family member during
the war. Displaced persons suffered more
losses than non-displaced persons. In addition,
the psychological response to loss of
property could have similar features to the
psychological response to loss of a close person
and might cause a high ratio of depression
symptoms in displaced persons.25
The present study indicated that nondisplaced
persons had higher scores from
BSI somatization subscale. The findings of
a large-scale international study that used
data from 14 countries indicated that the
overall prevalence rate for somatization was
19.7%.26 There are no studies that have
evaluated the prevalence of somatization
in a large community of recently displaced
persons.
However a limited number of studies
have dealt with migrant somatic complaints.
Pang and Lee27 reported 7.3% of somatic
complaints in Korean migrants.27 Ritsner28
reported 21.9% and a high rate of somatic
complaints related to distress in Jewish
migrants in the U.S.28 In a study on the
psychosocial complaints of people forced
into internal displacement in Turkey, it was
reported that 10% of displaced persons had
somatic complaints.25
Another study on the effects of forced
internal displacement in the Southeast of
Turkey showed that displaced persons had a
higher rate of somatic symptoms than nondisplaced
persons.19 In contrast, the present
study revealed that non-displaced persons
had a higher rate of somatic complaints than
displaced persons. The explanation for this
surprising finding is very hard to establish
and requires some examination. Somatic
complaints may appear with current psychosocial
stressors, or if there has been a
chronic somatization the symptom can be
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- Location: nicosia
by halil » Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:25 pm
reactivated.13 People who cannot react to
stressful situations in life may use somatic
complaints as a defense mechanism. However
somatic complaints should be evaluated
in four major categories, according to
whether the person’s current presentation
is a normal reaction to a stressful circumstance,
an adjustment disorder, somatization
due to major depression or an anxiety disorder,
or a primary form of chronic somatization.
29
The present study was carried out close
in time to the Annan Plan Referendum and
the two communities’ responses to the plan
would determine whether Turkish Cypriots
and Greek Cypriots could live together. This
period can be described as a very stressful
period for the Turkish Cypriot community.
Non-displaced persons reported
more positive opinions regarding the future
and potentially living with Greek Cypriots,
but displaced persons’ opinions were more
negative. Non-displaced persons who had
positive expectations concerning the future
revealed somatic complaints regarding the
stressful conditions. In contrast, displaced
persons who had negative opinions concerning
the future might have been expressing
their stress through depression symptoms.
Although this study has been conducted
more than 30 years after displacement, it is
the first scientific examination of the psychological
effects of displacement among Turkish
Cypriots and it shows that psychological
consequences are still being experienced and
that further research and psychological support
is necessary.
stressful situations in life may use somatic
complaints as a defense mechanism. However
somatic complaints should be evaluated
in four major categories, according to
whether the person’s current presentation
is a normal reaction to a stressful circumstance,
an adjustment disorder, somatization
due to major depression or an anxiety disorder,
or a primary form of chronic somatization.
29
The present study was carried out close
in time to the Annan Plan Referendum and
the two communities’ responses to the plan
would determine whether Turkish Cypriots
and Greek Cypriots could live together. This
period can be described as a very stressful
period for the Turkish Cypriot community.
Non-displaced persons reported
more positive opinions regarding the future
and potentially living with Greek Cypriots,
but displaced persons’ opinions were more
negative. Non-displaced persons who had
positive expectations concerning the future
revealed somatic complaints regarding the
stressful conditions. In contrast, displaced
persons who had negative opinions concerning
the future might have been expressing
their stress through depression symptoms.
Although this study has been conducted
more than 30 years after displacement, it is
the first scientific examination of the psychological
effects of displacement among Turkish
Cypriots and it shows that psychological
consequences are still being experienced and
that further research and psychological support
is necessary.
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- Main Contributor
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- Location: nicosia
by humanist » Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:40 pm
well halil, atleast now you will be able to identify with the displaced Greek speaking Cypriots who aren't allowed to return to their homes, at least Turkish speaking Cypriots have every right to return to their homes of origins. It is a different issue if you do not want to return. And that is fine, but please allow those who wish to return to do so.
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humanist - Main Contributor
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by roseandchan » Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:32 pm
traumatic event happen to different people around the world. they just have to get on with it. i have friends who were made to fight in 74. i have friends who went to war in the falklands. i have a friend who was raped. friends who have been mugged. my friend died of cancer leaving 2 small kids.my husband has been shot while at work. yes there are after effects but you have to be strong and move on. after the events of 74 turkey didn't even treat its own wounded soldiers properly let alone deal with traumatised people. humanist i know halil is one of the tc that welcome a solution. i recently read somewhere a statement by talat who said that the property issue would be dealth with in guidence with international law. well if you look at the rulings of the e.u court of human rights the cases have always favoured the original owners return or compensation of their property. so if he is true to his words then everyone will have the right to their property. will he ,who knows ? we will have to wait and see.
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by Nikitas » Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:46 am
In another thread there is a TRNC official who is quoted as saying that no territory will be returned. So this wait and see is in whose favor exactly?
As for being resolute and accepting fate, you have it a little wrong there Roseandchan. This is not fate, this is a man made situation and accepting it means rewarding the thief. Which is why Britain sent an army 9000 miles to the Falklands, to kick out the thieves.
Also in the above study it reads that 46 per cent of TCs had at least one family member murdered which is obviously not possible statistically. The GCs are reported to have "fled" to the south, while the TCs "escaped" to the north. The dude who compiled the study must think we all suffer from collective amnesia and cannot recall how the population was moved. The TCs first went to the British bases, therefore we must assume they were free to move at least that far if not further, and the GCs were bombed the hell out of the north. Famagusta had to be bombed three times inorder to get the people to bugger off.
Do us a favor and stop posting this kind of statistical bullshit.
As for being resolute and accepting fate, you have it a little wrong there Roseandchan. This is not fate, this is a man made situation and accepting it means rewarding the thief. Which is why Britain sent an army 9000 miles to the Falklands, to kick out the thieves.
Also in the above study it reads that 46 per cent of TCs had at least one family member murdered which is obviously not possible statistically. The GCs are reported to have "fled" to the south, while the TCs "escaped" to the north. The dude who compiled the study must think we all suffer from collective amnesia and cannot recall how the population was moved. The TCs first went to the British bases, therefore we must assume they were free to move at least that far if not further, and the GCs were bombed the hell out of the north. Famagusta had to be bombed three times inorder to get the people to bugger off.
Do us a favor and stop posting this kind of statistical bullshit.
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- Main Contributor
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