Factors Associated with Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms in Students Who Survived 20 Months after the Sewol Ferry Disaster in Korea.
- Author:
So Hee LEE
1
;
Eun Ji KIM
;
Jin Won NOH
;
Jeong Ho CHAE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Sewol Ferry Disaster; Surviving Students; Post-traumatic Stress Disorder; Associated Factors
- MeSH: Adolescent; Child; Disasters*; Female; Grief; Hand; Humans; Korea*; Linear Models; Prevalence; Protective Factors; Shock; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Survivors
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science 2018;33(11):e90-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND: The Sewol ferry disaster caused national shock and grief in Korea. The present study examined the prevalence and associated factors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among the surviving students 20 months after that disaster. METHODS: This study was conducted using a cross-sectional design and a sample of 57 students (29 boys and 28 girls) who survived the Sewol ferry disaster. Data were collected using a questionnaire, including instruments that assessed psychological status. A generalized linear model using a log link and Poisson distribution was performed to identify factors associated with PTSD symptoms. RESULTS: The results showed that 26.3% of participants were classified in the clinical group by the Child Report of Post-traumatic Symptoms score. Based on a generalized linear model, Poisson distribution, and log link analyses, PTSD symptoms were positively correlated with the number of exposed traumatic events, peers and social support, peri-traumatic dissociation and post-traumatic negative beliefs, and emotional difficulties. On the other hand, PTSD symptoms were negatively correlated with psychological well-being, family cohesion, post-traumatic social support, receiving care at a psychiatry clinic, and female gender. CONCLUSION: This study uncovered risk and protective factors of PTSD in disaster-exposed adolescents. The implications of these findings are considered in relation to determining assessment and interventional strategies aimed at helping survivors following similar traumatic experiences.
