Page 58 - JCBP-2-2

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Cultural coping for PTSD among amaXhosa

Figure 1. Procedural steps of data collection

and procedures. They were assured of anonymity and guide included, “What have you experienced after your
confidentiality, and they provided consent to participate. <insert traumatic event> that was different than before the
Subsequently, interviews were conducted at locations event?,” “How did you overcome the symptoms after your
chosen by the participants, either at the university campus <insert traumatic event>?,” and “Were there any specific
or other specified locations, with all participants expressing cultural elements/practices that facilitated your coping
themselves in English. process?”
Three gatekeepers, predominantly isiXhosa speakers, A vignette depicting a scenario of a woman who lost
assisted in selecting focus group participants in each her son while he went jet skiing facilitated the FGDs. The
town. Following approval for the FGDs, the sessions woman in the vignette experienced symptoms of PTSD,
were scheduled to take place 3 – 5 days later. While most such as flashbacks, recurrent stressful dreams, and loss
participants communicated in English, a few intermittently of energy. The author asked participants to recommend
expressed themselves in isiXhosa. appropriate cultural practices that could be adopted if
someone from their culture experiences symptoms of
2.7. Data collection tools PTSD. Questions such as “From your cultural perspective,
During the study, distinct tools developed by the authors where are the symptoms coming from?” and “In terms of
were employed for individual interviews and FGDs. your cultural understanding, what must she do to minimize
Aligned with the traumatic death criteria in the Diagnostic or overcome these behaviors?” were posed. These questions
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition aimed to uncover participants’ perspectives on culturally
(DSM-5), these tools guided the questions posed during informed approaches that the woman in the vignette
the interviews and discussions. The individual interviews could employ to manage her symptoms. Despite the
were primarily conducted by one of the authors, Sandra distinct groups participating in the FGDs and individual
Thompson-Assan, following a semi-structured approach, interviews, responses from both sets were analyzed to
delving into participants’ traumatic encounters and evaluate the extent to which individuals followed cultural
symptoms. Open-ended questions were used to explore beliefs and practices.
the symptoms experienced post-trauma and the coping
mechanisms employed. While symptomatology was not the 2.8. Data analysis
primary focus, understanding these symptoms was crucial The data analysis followed the recommended phases
to differentiate between those aligning with the DSM-5 for thematic analysis, encompassing six phases:
criteria and those necessitating cultural interventions. Of data familiarization, initial code generation, theme
significance, participants were encouraged to candidly identification, theme review, report production, and
share the culturally informed practices they utilized to thematic mappings. The author immersed herself in the
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manage PTSD symptoms. Questions asked in the interview data by transcribing interviews, reviewing transcripts, and

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2024) 3 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcbp.2889