Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Diagnosis, Prevalence, and Research Advances

Perceived community participation in tsunami recovery efforts and the mental health of tsunami-affected mothers: findings from a study in rural Sri Lanka

BACKGROUND

The 2004 tsunami seriously affected millions of families in several developing countries by destroying their livelihoods, houses and communities, subsequently damaging social and physical resources. Disaster studies have documented that both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression develop during the first six months following disaster exposure for the majority of those afflicted.

AIMS

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METHODS

Using data from 325 tsunami-affected families living in southern Sri Lanka, the current study investigates whether community social resources such as residents' perceived community participation in tsunami recovery efforts reduce mental health risks (PTSD and depressive symptoms) of tsunami-affected mothers. The analysis is based on structural equation modelling.

RESULTS

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CONCLUSIONS

The findings of structural equation modelling supports the main hypothesis that residents' perceived community participation directly and indirectly (through collective family functioning and mental health service use) reduces mental health risks (both PTSD and depressive symptoms) of tsunami-affected mothers after controlling for pre-tsunami family adversities. In addition, the results show that residents' perceived community participation buffers the influence of trauma exposure on PTSD symptom levels of mothers. The identification of specific social and family processes that relate to mental health can be useful for post-disaster interventions and recovery programmes.

Family context of mental health risk in Tsunami affected mothers: findings from a pilot study in Sri Lanka

This study investigated direct and indirect influences of Tsunami exposure on mothers' PTSD and depressive symptoms using survey data from 325 Tsunami-affected families living in two villages in southern Sri Lanka. Findings generally support the hypothesized model in that life and property destruction contributed to the PTSD and depressive symptoms of mothers. Detrimental influences of Tsunami exposure also operated through the generation of more proximal secondary Tsunami risks such as post-Tsunami family problems. In addition, religious participation, familism, number of children, intact family status, and community support reduced mothers' depressive symptoms. Finally, intact family status and high religious participation moderated the detrimental influence of Tsunami exposure on mothers' PTSD symptoms. These findings can contribute directly to improving ongoing recovery and reconstruction programs and help to formulate future programs for families affected by the Tsunami and other natural disasters.

An exploratory comparison of disasters, riots and terrorist acts

One question that emerged following the 11 September attacks was how to categorise and classify the event within existing disaster and conflict-event research frameworks. A decade ago, Quarantelli (1993) compared findings on the similarities and differences between consensus- and conflict-type events by illustrating a conceptual distinction between the two. In this paper, this discussion is expanded to include terrorist attacks by offering comparisons from research findings following 11 September. We provide analyses of individual, organisational, and community-level behaviour in crisis situations and suggest how 11 September is both similar to, and differs from, consensus- and conflict-type events as they were previously considered. Applications for emergency management are also suggested.