Examines the factors contributing to or predictive of symptoms of post-traumatic stress among displaced women in a war zone in Bosnia-Herzegovina. For the study, roughly 200 women were asked sociodemographic questions as well as about their wartime experiences and reactions. Types of war trauma reported included having one’s dwelling destroyed and life endangered, being separated from family, losing family members to violent death, being detained or placed in a concentration camp, and witnessing killing. Half of the women were classified as posttraumatic symptom (PTS) cases because they reported 6 or more symptoms characteristic of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Among the risk factors for PTS cases were experiences of a high number of traumas, being married, having children, and, especially, having an absent husband. Level of education and pre-war occupation were not significantly predictive of a PTS case. Women may have underreported painful memories; for instance, none of the women reported being raped, a surprising finding since any type of detention poses the greatest risk of sexual abuse. Women who have the highest risk for PTSD should be given preventive care and treatment priority.
