L'influence thérapeutique de la perception de justice informationnelle et interpersonnelle sur les symptômes de stress post-traumatique des victimes d'actes criminels
Following a crime, the need for information is fundamental for victims (Baril, 1984). Police officers play an important role in the transmission of information to victims given that they are the first actors encountered by victims in the legal system and usually the ones with which they have more interactions (Laxminarayan, 2013). Also, how victims perceive the contacts they had with the police can have a significant impact on their psychological recovery (Herman, 2003). This study aims to measure the therapeutic impact of victims’ interactions with police officers and the dissemination of information given to them on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Thus, the measuring instrument used was l’Échelle modifiée des symptômes du trouble de stress post-traumatique (Guay, Marchand, Iucci et Martin, 2002) which is a french adaptation of the Modified PTSD Symptom Scale-Self Report (MPSS-SR) elaborated by Falsetti, Resnick, Resick et Kilpatrick (1993). It was administered to participants (n=188) to evaluate the presence of PTSD in terms of frequency and severity of the symptoms. The study shows that information is an important aspect of fair treatment which in turn affects PTSD symptoms. Finally, the results will be discussed in a broader perspective on the theories in victimology about fairness perception, the issue of secondary victimization and on the implications for policies on victims' rights.
Victims of crimes Perception of justice Post-traumatic stress disorder