Post-traumatic stress disorder and its risk factors in bereaved Tibetan adolescents 3 years after the 2010 Yushu earthquake, a cross-sectional study in China

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study examined the incidence of symptomatological post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in bereaved Tibetan adolescents 3 years after the 2010 Yushu earthquake, then to identify possible and relational risk factors of PTSD by a cross-sectional study. MethodsA total of 867 bereaved Tibetan adolescents seriously impacted by the 2010 earthquake were investigated. Symptomatological PTSD was evaluated by the PTSD Checklist–Civilian Version. And coping styles were evaluated by the Coping Styles Scale. Exposure of trauma to the 2010 Yushu earthquake was evaluated by a checklist about earthquake containing sociodemographic variables. Results3 years after the Yushu earthquake, 24.4% of the bereaved Tibetan adolescents had symptomatological PTSD. The results also indicated that coping styles and disaster-related experiences after the 2010 earthquake were connected with PTSD among survivors. When the 2010 earthquake struck, those having symptomatological PTSD were more probably to be buried/injured/amputated, and to witness burial/injury/death, and to have property damage. An individual who adopted positive coping skill was probably to have less symptomatological PTSD. ConclusionsThe results showed that the existence of PTSD in bereaved Tibetan adolescents in the Yushu earthquake was very prevailing after 3 years. Effective psychological rescue work should be carried out, especially targeting bereaved Tibetan adolescents with more severe PTSD.