study on captivity period's stresses and coping styles in a group of iranian prisoners of war

ABSTRACT

This article deals with the study of the stresses among a group of Iranian POWs during their captivity in the hands of Iraqi forces and their coping styles under such circumstances. Meanwhile achieving relationships between their period of captivity with their military rank, the way of being held captive, matrimony status is the main objective of this study. Thus 100 POWs-inhabitants of Tehran were selected by simple random sampling. Data gathering instruments included a 31-question inventory and a check list of stress experiences as well as checklist of coping styles. The results indicated that malnutrition, witnessing inflections of fellow prisoners, being threatened, and growing ill, were the main stress events of captivity period. Meanwhile, praying as well as remembering the past joyful experiences were the positive coping methods and also depression, withdrawal, self-absorption, and having a headache were the negative coping methods that were commonly used by POWs