Amanda's Research on PTSD, You Can Help!
Dear Participant, My name is Amanda Petersen and I am a junior at Plainedge High School in North Massapequa, NY. I am involved in the Plainedge Advanced Research Program that allows students to study a topic of their choice. We develop hypotheses based on extensive background research and conduct surveys to test these assumptions. From there, we compose a college level paper that is submitted to prestigious competitions such as the Intel Science Talent search and the Long Island Psychology Fair. Over the past five years of this program, our school has produced several semi- finalists in Intel and I am very enthusiastic to unlock my full potential as a researcher.
As part of the Intel Science Talent Search, I am interested in examining the motives behind why veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are reluctant to seek medical help due to their perception of mental illnesses. This project will help people understand why veterans are not seeking help. With the information that I will contain we can resolve that problem and more veterans will be more motivated to turn to medical help.
Please take the time to answer this brief questionnaire. All of your responses will be kept anonymous and be analyzed only after aggregating all the responses. This protects your identity and you may stop answering the survey at any point. If you have any questions – please contact [email protected].
Thank you,
Amanda Petersen
(Disability Writer Note: You might copy the survey and paste it into an email, fill it out, then send it to: [email protected]. I have setup an email address for her at this site that forwards it to her personally so she can complete her research.)
*Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is most common in soldiers who have had negative encounters during their time in war. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that can develop following an experience of a catastrophe. Symptoms of PTSD are upsetting memories from the past, nightmares, and intense stress. Symptoms are triggered by something that reminds you of the original traumatic event, such as a noise, an image, certain words, or a smell. Everyone experiences PTSD in different ways.
Interview Questions:
What war did you participate in?
What was your military occupation?
How long were you stationed there?
What is your most intense memory from combat?
Do you know of others who have sought out help?
How has PTSD changed your life?
How have you coped with PTSD?
Do any members in your family have PTSD? If so how has it affected you?
How long did it take you to seek help?
What stereotypes do you feel exist towards people who have PTSD?
Do you feel society has made progress towards helping veterans who have Post traumatic Stress Disorder? If not what can it do to improve help for people who have PTSD?
Age:
Gender: Male: Female:
Ethnicity:
Caucasian: African-American: Hispanic: Asian: Native-American: Other:
Did you ever at any point experience Post Traumatic Stress?
Yes
No
Do you still experience symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress?
Yes
No
Have you ever sought out medical attention for PTSD?
Yes
No
The following statements question your experiences with others in society:
1. The general public understands people with PTSD.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
2. I feel the need to hide my PTSD from my friends and family.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
3. The way people have treated me upsets me.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
4. I have been discriminated against by housing departments/landlords because of my PTSD
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
5. When I see or read something about mental health in the papers or television, it makes me feel bad about myself.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
6. Sometimes I feel that I am/or was being talked down to because of my PTSD.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
7. Having had PTSD has made me a more understanding person.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
8. I am to blame for my PTSD.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
9. I feel uncomfortable talking about my mental stress.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
10. I feel that people place stereotypes on others who have experienced PTSD.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
11. Those who seek help are weak.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
12. Newspapers/television presents a balanced view about veterans with PTSD.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
13. I am open to my family about my PTSD.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
14. I worry about telling people I receive/recieved psychological treatment.
Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
15. I was worried that people would see me as a weak person if I sought mental help.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
16. Talking about my experiences eases my stress.
Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
17. People are understanding of my PTSD.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
18. I have been unjustly treated by the police because of my PTSD.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
19. I have been discriminated against by employers because of my PTSD.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
20. I have been physically threatened or attacked because of my PTSD.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
21. I know of fellow soldiers who have sought out medical attention.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
22. I avoid telling people about my PTSD.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
23. I am scared of how other people will react if they find out about my PTSD.
Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
24. My family has supported and helped me cope with my PTSD.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
25. Society’s perceptions of PTSD makes me hesitant to seek help.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
26. I do not mind people in my neighborhood knowing I have had PTSD.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
27. I would say I have had PTSD when applying for a job.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
28. I worry about telling people that I take medicines for PTSD.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
29. People’s reactions to my PTSD make me keep me to myself.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
30. I am angry with the way people have reacted to PTSD.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
31. I feel hesitant about seeking medical attention.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
32. I have been discriminated against by health professionals because of PTSD.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
33. People have avoided me because of my PTSD.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
34. People have insulted me because of my PTSD.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
35. I feel that seeking medical attention will help my PTSD.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
36. I do not feel embarrassed because of my PTSD.
Strongly agree: Agree: Disagree: Strongly Disagree:
I give my consent to answer this survey:
Signature:
Date: