Abstract
This study aims to investigate the role of personality traits and subjective exposure experiences in posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms. In Qingchuan, 21,652 children aged 7 to 15 years were assessed using face-to-face interviews one year after the Wenchuan earthquake in China. The Junior Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, a modified earthquake exposure scale, the UCLA Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index (adolescent), and the Adolescent Depression Inventory were used to assess personality characteristics, trauma experiences, posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms, respectively. The measurement was completed with 20,749 children. After adjusting for other factors by multinomial logistic regression analysis, neuroticism, having felt unable to escape from the disaster and having been trapped for a longer time were risk factors of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms. Socialization was a protective factor of them. Having felt extreme panic or fear was a risk factor of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. For depression symptoms, introversion and psychoticism were risk factors, and extraversion was a protective factor. This study was conducted with the largest representative sample of child survivors of a natural, devastating disaster in a developing country. These results could be useful for planning psychological intervention strategies for children and for influencing further research.
Highlights
Personality traits determine the variation in typical reactions to the environment
It has not yet been determined what role personality traits play in PTSD or depression symptoms among children after a catastrophe when primary personality traits are included and other risk factors are controlled[16]
Adjusting for confounding factors, the risk factors of only depression symptoms were neuroticism, introversion, psychoticism, and two subjective exposure experiences, including having felt unable to escape from the disaster and having been trapped for a longer time
Summary
Personality traits determine the variation in typical reactions to the environment. That is, even when individuals experience the same trauma, their responses can vary because of personality traits. In predicting PTSD, the neuroticism trait is considered the most important personality dimension as it has been found to be robustly related to many mental disorders[10] This trait, characterised by a presentation of negative emotional responses to threat, frustration or loss, overlaps specific aspects with arousal symptoms. It has not yet been determined what role personality traits play in PTSD or depression symptoms among children after a catastrophe when primary personality traits are included and other risk factors are controlled[16] Another critical cluster of risk factors associated with PTSD in children is trauma exposure experiences that can be divided into two categories: objective (e.g., losing a family member, injury) and subjective (e.g., the experience of intense fear, helplessness, or horror)[17,18]. Despite these different manifestations with the presence of comorbidity, only a few studies have focused on the predictors of comorbid PTSD and depression as a separate entity from PTSD, with even fewer studies among children[33]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
