Patterns of posttraumatic stress disorder and posttraumatic growth among women after an earthquake: A latent profile analysis

Abstract

It is well known that women are more vulnerable than men to mental health problems following disasters. However, the patterns of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among women are unclear. This study was conducted to investigate the profiles of PTSD and PTG among women after an earthquake and determine the predictors of profile membership. A total of 1487 women (Mage = 40.66 years, SD = 10.39) completed questionnaires assessing PTSD, PTG, trauma exposure during an earthquake, trauma history, and demographic information. A three-step latent profile analysis was used. Five profiles were identified: mild PTSD/mild PTG (12.4% of the sample), moderate PTSD/moderate PTG (39.4%), high PTSD/moderate PTG (9.6%), mild PTSD/high PTG (17.5%) and high PTSD/high PTG (21.1%). Women who were older, had been injured, or felt horrible and those whose houses were severely damaged in the earthquake were more likely to be in profiles characterized by higher levels of PTSD and PTG, whereas women with lower education levels were more likely to be in profiles characterized by higher levels of PTSD but lower levels of PTG. The results of this study provide a foundation for providing psychological assistance for particular groups of women.