Control study of behavioral and emotional problem between local children and victimized children migrated out of disaster area one year after earthquake

Abstract

Objective To explore the behavioral and emotional status of the migrated children one year after they were victimized from earthquake in Wenchuan. Methods 513 victimized children migrated out of disaster area were investigated, with Achenback Child Behavior Checklist ( CBCL), the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED)and Depression Self-rating Scale for Children (DSRSC). The controls were local children ( n = 475 ) coming from the same schools. Results 487 answered files were validated. There were significant differences between the victimized and migrated children and the local children in many scores of CBCL, such as total sores( (26.73 ±6.28)Vs (20.26 ±5.76), t= 16.64, P＜0. 01 ) and withdrawal( (3.23 ±1. 68 ) Vs ( 2.02 ± 1.43 ), t = 12.91, P ＜ 0.01 ), somatization complaining( ( 2.79 ± 1. 34 ) Vs ( 1.67 ± 1.22 ), t =13.55, P ＜ 0. 01 ) and anxiety-depression scores ( ( 3.38 ± 1.79 ) Vs ( 1.95 ± 1. 21 ), t = 14.48, P ＜ 0.01 ), as well as its factors such as social problem, attentional problem, attack behavior, internalizing behavior, social communication and school scores. On the SCARED and DSRSC, the two groups were significantly different in total scores of anxiety and depression as well as in such factors as somatization, generalized anxiety, separated anxiety. Conclusion Though migrated out of the earthquake area, the victimised children still suffer obviously from behavioral problems, and anxious and depressive emotion one year after the earthquake. Key words: Earthquake; Children; Behavior; Anxiety; Depression