Mental Health, Social Support, and Active Coping in Nepali Earthquake Survivors

2021 ◽  
pp. 000276422110134
Author(s):  
Claire Luce ◽  
Tara Leytham Powell ◽  
Youngmi Kim
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Active Coping ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Earthquake Survivors ◽  
The Relationship

Research has shown a positive relationship between exposure to natural disasters and common disaster-related mental health disorders. However, much more can be done to fully examine how protective factors such as perceived social support or active coping strategies are related to mental health in the context of natural disasters. This study seeks to examine the relationship between mental disorders and active coping. The article also explores analyzes the moderating effect of perceived social support on mental health. Data were collected in August 2016 as part of a longitudinal study on a mental health and psychosocial intervention in postearthquake Nepal ( n = 660). Our independent variables in this study were anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. The dependent variable was active coping. Perceived social support was tested as a potential moderating variable. Ordinary least squares regression analyses were run to examine the relationships between the three mental disorders and active coping. We also tested the moderating effect of perceived social support on the relationships between the three mental disorders and active coping. Ordinary least square analyses found a statistically significant negative relationship between active coping and anxiety (B = −0.137, p < .001), depression (B = −0.116, p < .001), and posttraumatic stress symptoms (B = −0.065, p = .337), controlling for other factors. Perceived social support significantly moderated the associations between active coping and each mental disorder: anxiety (B = 0.012, p < .05), depression (B = 0.017, p < .05), and posttraumatic stress symptoms (B = 0.064, p < .05). Our findings suggest that perceived social support moderates the relationship between common mental disorders and active coping in Nepali earthquake survivors.

Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Victims of the Tokyo Subway Sarin Attack: Twenty Years Later

2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 794-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin Nakamine ◽  
Maiko Kobayashi ◽  
Hiroyuki Fujita ◽  
Sachiko Takahashi ◽  
Yutaka Matsui
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Comparison Group ◽  
Terrorist Attack ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Stressful Event ◽  
Secondary Victimization ◽  
Stress Symptoms

Introduction: Previous studies found that about 10–30% of terrorist attack survivors suffer mental disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which persist up to 10 years. However, little is known about whether the effects of terrorism on mental health could last for a longer period or whether physical symptoms and secondary victimization are associated with the persistence of mental disorders. Method: A questionnaire survey was conducted with the victims of the Tokyo subway sarin attack in March 1995 (N = 299). Victims’ physical and ophthalmic symptoms, secondary victimization, and posttraumatic stress symptoms were surveyed. For comparison, those who have experienced a stressful event were surveyed with the same instruments as of victims’ survey except secondary victimization. Results: Results indicated that 21.3% of the male and 36.1% of the female victims were in the high-risk group for posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), which did not differ from those of the comparison group. However, victims had physical and ophthalmic symptoms of greater severity than the comparison group. Moreover, we found that PTSS was strongly associated with physical symptoms and secondary victimization. Discussion: There is a need to develop a support system that would be helpful in reducing mental health suffering of terrorist victims. Providing regular physical checkups and building support for those who experience life changes caused by victimization are suggested.

scholarly journals The role of social support in the relationship between mental health and posttraumatic stress disorder amongst orthopaedic patients

Curationis ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vhuhwavho M. Maselesele ◽  
Erhabor S. Idemudia
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Orthopaedic Trauma ◽  
Orthopaedic Patients ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Some life-event experiences such as injuries in car accidents, gun shots and the like, can be life changing and traumatic. Objectives: The article investigated the relationship between mental health and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms after orthopaedic trauma, and attempted to understand whether social support moderates the relationship between mental health and PTSD.Method: A cross-sectional research model was used. Two hundred participants were selected using simple randomisation within a hospital complex in Gauteng, South Africa. The sample consisted of 110 men and 90 women (x̄ = 37.8 years, s.d. = 12.9 years). Data were collected using the Revised Civilian Mississippi Scale for PTSD, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the General Health Questionnaire version 28.Results: The findings of the study indicated that there is a statistically significant relationship between mental health and PTSD after orthopaedic trauma, and a positive correlation between poor mental health and PTSD (r = 0.52, n = 200, p < 0.05). However, perceived social support did not moderate mental health or PTSD, indicating that perceived social support did not significantly influence mental health or PTSD, (MSPSS B = 0.07, p = 0.66). Those with high scores on social support had a lower regression coefficient (B = 0.19) for mental health and PTSD than those who reported low social support (B = 0.26).Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between mental health and PTSD of orthopaedic patients, and social support did not moderate the relationship between mental health and PTSD. 

scholarly journals The relationship between social support and posttraumatic stress symptoms among youth exposed to a natural disaster

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (sup2) ◽  
pp. 1450042 ◽  
Author(s):  
Betty S. Lai ◽  
Melissa C. Osborne ◽  
Jennifer Piscitello ◽  
Shannon Self-Brown ◽  
Mary Lou Kelley
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
The Relationship

scholarly journals Predictors of psychological distress in Syrian refugees with posttraumatic stress in Germany

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0254406
Author(s):  
Anna Renner ◽  
David Jäckle ◽  
Michaela Nagl ◽  
Rahel Hoffmann ◽  
Susanne Röhr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Traumatic Events ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Mental Health Stigma ◽  
Syrian Refugees ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Migration Factors

Syria has been the main country of citizenship of refugees in Germany since 2013. Syrians face numerous human rights violations in their country that can be accompanied by the experience of potentially traumatic events, loss and displacement. Along the migration process, refugees are exposed to various factors that can have an impact on mental health. The aim of this study is to investigate sociodemographic, war- and flight-related as well as post-migration factors as predictors of posttraumatic stress, depression, somatization and anxiety in Syrian refugees with posttraumatic stress symptoms based in Germany. Data were based on the baseline sample of the “Sanadak” randomized-controlled trial. A total of 133 adult Syrian refugees participated in the study. A questionnaire covered sociodemographic and flight-related questions as well as standardized instruments for symptoms of PTSD (PDS-5), depression (PHQ-9), somatization (PHQ-15), anxiety (GAD-7), generalized self-efficacy (GSE), religiousness (Z-Scale), social support (ESSI) and mental health stigma (SSMIS-SF). Linear regression models were executed to predict mental health outcomes. Sociodemographic predictors (i.e., female sex, higher education) and flight-related predicting factors (i.e., variability of traumatic events) have a negative impact on mental health in Syrian refugees with posttraumatic stress symptoms in Germany. Mental health stigma predicts worse mental health outcomes. Post-migration factors have a major impact on mental health, such as low income, lack of social support, low life satisfaction or a strongly felt connection to Syria. Somatization is an important manifestation of mental distress in Syrian refugees with posttraumatic stress symptoms. Our study showed a range of factors predicting the mental health of Syrian refugees with posttraumatic stress symptoms. Measures to foster mental health could be securing financial security, promoting gender equality and tailored psychosocial programs addressing mental health stigma, loss and social support networks.

Influence of Avoidant Coping on Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Job Burnout Among Firefighters: The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Yaru Chen ◽  
Xiaohui Li ◽  
Chen Chen ◽  
Yuanyuan An ◽  
Junyi Shi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Job Burnout ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Avoidant Coping ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Stress Symptoms

Abstract Objective: The study aims to explore the effects of avoidant coping on posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and job burnout among firefighters, and to examine the mediating role of perceived social support on the relationship between avoidant coping and PTSS and job burnout. Method: Assessments including the posttraumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Maslach Burnout Inventory–General Survey (MBI-GS), Coping Style Inventory (CSI), and Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) were conducted among 431 firefighters studying in a school specializing in training firemen in Nanjing, China. Result: The results show that: (1) Avoidant coping was positively related to PTSS and job burnout among firefighters; and (2) avoidant coping was positively related to PTSS and job burnout through the mediating effect of perceived social support. Conclusion: These findings not only provide guiding information for relevant departments to prevent mental health issues of firefighters in the future, but also enlighten the psychological intervention for firefighters, that is, to encourage firefighters to actively face and solve problems and adopt positive coping styles, as well as offer them more care and support whenever possible.

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