OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether there were differences in the acute stress reaction (ASR) between the Tibetan and the Han ethnic groups after experiencing devastating earthquakes. METHODS: One hundred twelve Han survivors of the Wenchuan earthquake and 112 Tibetan survivors of the Yushu earthquake were rated using the PTSD Checklist-Civilian (PCL-C) according to their trauma experiences, ages, genders, severity levels of injuries, and medical services received. RESULTS: Injured Tibetans had lower scores across symptom clusters of avoidance, numbing, and the total score of PCL-C as compared to Hans. Among Tibetans, severe ASR was associated with a higher education level and earthquake experience, whereas only earthquake experience was associated with severe ASR among injured Hans. CONCLUSION: Cultural factors may play significant roles in the acute stress reaction of survivors with different cultural backgrounds following an earthquake.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether there were differences in the acute stress reaction (ASR) between the Tibetan and the Han ethnic groups after experiencing devastating earthquakes. METHODS: One hundred twelve Han survivors of the Wenchuan earthquake and 112 Tibetan survivors of the Yushu earthquake were rated using the PTSD Checklist-Civilian (PCL-C) according to their trauma experiences, ages, genders, severity levels of injuries, and medical services received. RESULTS: Injured Tibetans had lower scores across symptom clusters of avoidance, numbing, and the total score of PCL-C as compared to Hans. Among Tibetans, severe ASR was associated with a higher education level and earthquake experience, whereas only earthquake experience was associated with severe ASR among injured Hans. CONCLUSION: Cultural factors may play significant roles in the acute stress reaction of survivors with different cultural backgrounds following an earthquake.
Authors: Antoine Messiah; Juan M Acuna; Grettel Castro; Pura Rodríguez de la Vega; Guillaume Vaiva; James Shultz; Yuval Neria; Mario De La Rosa Journal: Disaster Health Date: 2015-02-18