Page 59 - JCBP-2-2

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

reflecting on the information to formulate initial codes. completed their matriculation, and two had informal
Subsequently, related codes were identified, merged, and education. The university students’ ages ranged between
subjected to peer-reviewed for credibility. The refinement 19 and 21 years old, while the matriculation holders
of codes and generation of themes involved comparing were between 27 and 40 years old. The individuals with
codes across interviews and FGDs to discern similarities informal education were aged 24, 39, and 59 years old. Ten
and differences. participants identified themselves as Christians, while the
To address validity concerns, the study focused on remaining five associated more with traditional religion.
credibility, applicability, consistency, and neutrality, thus Besides the university students, the remaining participants
promoting trustworthiness. Triangulation of qualitative worked as shop attendants and informal traders.
methods, separate analysis of interviews and FGDs, The focus group comprised eight culturally informed
and comparison of responses were employed to ensure participants, evenly split between four men and four
credibility. Two transcribers and independent coders women. Among them, five participants were university
were engaged to maintain consistency, with regular graduates, while three had informal education, with ages
cross-checking by a supervisor. The author’s awareness of ranging from 18 to 62. Four participants identified with
potential biases and mitigation measures further enhanced the Christian religion, while the others leaned toward
the study’s neutrality. The comprehensive approach to data traditional worship. All focus group participants engaged
collection and analysis yielded findings with potential in small-scale selling of goods. Participants were chosen
applicability to other populations. based on their cultural understanding, defined as having
received formal or informal training from a cultural leader.
3. Results Three gatekeepers representing the respective towns guided
3.1. Sociodemographic characteristics of participants participant selection. Two focus groups were formed,
each consisting of four members, with an equal gender
Participants in the study were all South Africans, distribution of two men and two women in each group.
specifically amaXhosa speakers of isiXhosa between the
ages of 18 and 62. The sociodemographic features are The findings derived from the interviews and FGDs
outlined in Table 1. Fifteen participants were interviewed, conducted as part of the study revealed individuals’
while eight culturally informed individuals were divided perceptions of traumatic experiences. While mainstream
into two groups of four each for the FGDs. treatment plans for dealing with symptoms of PTSD
typically adopt a Western ontological or theoretical focus,
The interview participants comprised nine women participants in this study emphasized the importance of
and six men. Eleven were university students, two had culturally informed strategies for the treatment of PTSD
symptoms. They heavily relied on beliefs rooted within
Table 1. Sociodemographic characteristics of participants
their indigenous practices. Through the interviews, three
Sociodemographic Interview Focus group primary themes emerged: (i) perceptions of traumatic
participants participants symptoms; (ii) coping mechanisms for dealing with
(n=15) (n=8) PTSD symptoms; and (iii) various complementary
Age range 19 – 59 years 18 –62 years practices. Conversely, the FGDs generated two main
Education level themes: “perception of traumatic symptoms” and “coping
University graduates 11 5 with PTSD symptoms.” These themes, along with their
Matriculation 2 0 respective sub-themes, are elaborated upon below.
Informal education 3 3 3.2. Perceptions of traumatic experiences among
Occupation University Informal interviewees
students, shop traders
attendants, and The sub-themes generated regarding participants’
informal traders perceptions of traumatic experiences were: naturally
Religious affiliation occurring and expected experiences and spiritual causes.
Christians 10 4 Some participants, however, were unsure of the causes
Traditionalists 5 4 of their traumatic experiences. Participants experienced
Sex events that were classified as traumatic according to the
DSM-5 criteria and outlined in the literature. Among
1,6
Females 9 4 the 15 participants, 10 had experienced several forms
Males 6 4 of traumatic events, such as rape, assault, vehicular

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2024) 4 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcbp.2889