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Coping Behaviour After Shipwreck

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Scott Henderson  and
Tudor Bostock
Scott Henderson
Affiliation:
National Health and Medical Research Council, Social Psychiatry Research Unit, The Australian National University, Canberra, A.C.T. 2600, Australia
Tudor Bostock
Affiliation:
Kippax Health Centre, Kippax Place, Holt, A.C.T. 2615, Australia
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Summary

A description is given of the coping behaviour of seven men who survived a shipwreck and were not rescued until 13 days later. The principal behaviours shown by the men were attachment ideation, drive to survive, modelling, prayer and hope. Particular attention is paid to the first of these, and consideration given to its likely origins in behavioural evolution. It is proposed as a hitherto inadequately recognized coping behaviour. A follow-up examination 12 to 24 months later showed that five of the seven men available had developed substantial psychiatric disorder, while by contrast one was not only well but claimed to have been enriched by the experience. Exposure to extreme adversity or disaster may have long-term effects on mental health. Further longitudinal studies of disaster victims are necessary for the design of informed after-care.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 131 , Issue 1 , July 1977 , pp. 15 - 20
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1977 

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