Social Support for Exposed Children and Adolescents Who Experienced the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami - Associations with Psychological Health in Young Adulthood

• Background: Lack of social support is a risk factor for negative psychological outcomes post disaster. However, we do not know if this is the case after many years.Aim: The aim was to examine the association between remembered social support directly after the 2004 tsunami or social support eight years post disaster and psychological distress, posttraumatic stress symptoms, self-rated health, worry or anxiety and suicide ideation in 2012 for exposed children and adolescents.Subjects and Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to young adults who experienced the tsunami when they were 10-15 years of age. The questionnaire included Crises Support Scale, General Health Questionnaire, Impact of Events Scale Revised and questions of Worry and Anxiety, Self-rated Health, and Suicidal ideation and questions specially made.Results: Low levels of perceived social support given in 2004 or 2012 were associated with higher levels of psychological distress, additional posttraumatic stress symptoms, low self-rated health, more worry or anxiety and more suicidal ideation in 2012.Conclusion: The results show that providing social support for children and adolescents who have experienced a disaster create better psychological health many years later

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Children

Adolescents

Natural disaster

Social support

Psychological outcomes

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)