Junjun Qi1, Xima Yang1, Ruyue Tan1, Xinchun Wu2, Xiao Zhou3. 1. Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310028, China. 2. Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China. 3. Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310028, China. Electronic address: psyzx@zju.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: On August 8, 2017, a 7-magtitude earthquake struck Jiuzhaigou County in Sichuan, China. This was the third devastating earthquake in that province. The prevalence and predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and comorbid PTSD/depression among adolescents were unclear after the Jiuzhaigou earthquake. METHODS: Participants were 1241 adolescent survivors in Jiuzhaigou. Data were collected using the PTSD Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, and the Chinese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children. RESULTS: In total, 46.3% of participants reported PTSD, 64.5% reported depression, and 39.2% reported comorbid PTSD/depression symptoms. Risk factors for symptoms of these disorders were being female, having been injured or trapped, and intrusive rumination. High school students were less likely to report PTSD and comorbid PTSD/depression than middle school students. Participants with family members/friends that were injured or trapped reported more PTSD and comorbid symptoms than those without this experience. Loss of property also predicted PTSD. However, deliberate rumination was a protective factor for depression. LIMITATIONS: This study did not cover all adolescents in Jiuzhaigou and all potential predictors. As we used a cross-sectional design, this study could not assess the trajectory of PTSD, depression, and comorbid symptoms after the earthquake. CONCLUSION: The findings are meaningful for mental health care among adolescents after natural disasters such as an earthquake.
BACKGROUND: On August 8, 2017, a 7-magtitude earthquake struck Jiuzhaigou County in Sichuan, China. This was the third devastating earthquake in that province. The prevalence and predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and comorbid PTSD/depression among adolescents were unclear after the Jiuzhaigou earthquake. METHODS:Participants were 1241 adolescent survivors in Jiuzhaigou. Data were collected using the PTSD Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, and the Chinese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children. RESULTS: In total, 46.3% of participants reported PTSD, 64.5% reported depression, and 39.2% reported comorbid PTSD/depression symptoms. Risk factors for symptoms of these disorders were being female, having been injured or trapped, and intrusive rumination. High school students were less likely to report PTSD and comorbid PTSD/depression than middle school students. Participants with family members/friends that were injured or trapped reported more PTSD and comorbid symptoms than those without this experience. Loss of property also predicted PTSD. However, deliberate rumination was a protective factor for depression. LIMITATIONS: This study did not cover all adolescents in Jiuzhaigou and all potential predictors. As we used a cross-sectional design, this study could not assess the trajectory of PTSD, depression, and comorbid symptoms after the earthquake. CONCLUSION: The findings are meaningful for mental health care among adolescents after natural disasters such as an earthquake.
Authors: Herbert E Ainamani; Roland Weierstall-Pust; Ronald Bahati; Anne Otwine; Sam Tumwesigire; Godfrey Z Rukundo Journal: Eur J Psychotraumatol Date: 2022-01-10
Authors: Mario J Valladares-Garrido; Luis E Zapata-Castro; Helena Domínguez-Troncos; Abigaíl García-Vicente; Darwin A León-Figueroa; J Pierre Zila-Velasque; Pamela Grados-Espinoza; David Astudillo-Rueda; C Ichiro Peralta; Cristian Díaz-Vélez Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-07-08 Impact factor: 4.614