Investigating the psychological impact of bank robbery: a cohort study.
Despite numerous annual bank robberies worldwide, research in the psychological sequelae of bank robberies is sparse and characterized by several limitations. To overcome these limitations we investigated the psychological impact of bank robbery in a cohort study by comparing general levels of traumatization and somatization in employees never exposed to robbery and employees exposed to robbery at different degrees and time-points, while controlling for selected risk factors of posttraumatic distress. Multivariate regression analyses showed that only the acute directly exposed robbery group which had a significantly higher score on general traumatization and somatization compared to the control group whilst controlling for other factors. In conclusion, bank robbery exposure appears to be especially associated with psychological distress in the acute phase and in victims present during the robbery. After the acute phase, other factors appear more important in predicting general traumatization and somatization in bank employees compared to exposure to robbery.
National Centre for Psychotraumatology, Institute for Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, Odense M, Odense 5230, Denmark. Electronic address: mhansen@health.sdu.dk.
Maj
M
Hansen
School of Psychology and Psychology Research Institute, University of Ulster, Coleraine Campus, Cromore Road, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK.
Cherie
C
Armour
School of Psychology and Psychology Research Institute, University of Ulster, Coleraine Campus, Cromore Road, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK.
Mark
M
Shevlin
National Centre for Psychotraumatology, Institute for Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, Odense M, Odense 5230, Denmark.
Ask
A
Elklit
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013800:Theft / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017132:Workplace
Bank robbery; Cohort study; Control group; Somatization; Traumatization