Investigating the psychological impact of bank robbery: a cohort study

Maj Hansen; Cherie Armour; Mark Shevlin; Ask Elklit

doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.04.005

Investigating the psychological impact of bank robbery: a cohort study

J Anxiety Disord. 2014 Jun;28(5):454-9. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.04.005. Epub 2014 Apr 26.

Authors

Maj Hansen¹, Cherie Armour², Mark Shevlin², Ask Elklit³

Affiliations

¹ National Centre for Psychotraumatology, Institute for Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, Odense M, Odense 5230, Denmark. Electronic address: mhansen@health.sdu.dk.
² School of Psychology and Psychology Research Institute, University of Ulster, Coleraine Campus, Cromore Road, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK.
³ National Centre for Psychotraumatology, Institute for Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, Odense M, Odense 5230, Denmark.

PMID: 24846493
DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.04.005

Abstract

Despite numerous annual bank robberies worldwide, research in the psychological sequelae of bank robberies is sparse and characterized by several limitations. To overcome these limitations we investigated the psychological impact of bank robbery in a cohort study by comparing general levels of traumatization and somatization in employees never exposed to robbery and employees exposed to robbery at different degrees and time-points, while controlling for selected risk factors of posttraumatic distress. Multivariate regression analyses showed that only the acute directly exposed robbery group which had a significantly higher score on general traumatization and somatization compared to the control group whilst controlling for other factors. In conclusion, bank robbery exposure appears to be especially associated with psychological distress in the acute phase and in victims present during the robbery. After the acute phase, other factors appear more important in predicting general traumatization and somatization in bank employees compared to exposure to robbery.

Keywords: Bank robbery; Cohort study; Control group; Somatization; Traumatization.

MeSH terms

Adult
Case-Control Studies
Cohort Studies
Crime Victims / psychology*
Crime Victims / statistics & numerical data
Denmark
Female
Humans
Life Change Events*
Male
Middle Aged
Multivariate Analysis
Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
Occupational Exposure / statistics & numerical data
Regression Analysis
Risk Factors
Stress, Psychological / etiology*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Theft / psychology*
Theft / statistics & numerical data
Workplace