The psychosocial impact of an earthquake on the elderly
S. Ticehurst
Bok Engelsk 1996
| Utgitt | 1996
|
|---|---|
| Omfang | Side 943- 951
|
| Opplysninger | The psychosocial effects of an earthquake which occurred inNewcastle, Australia in 1989 are the focus of the Quake Impact Study,a four-phase community survey conducted over 2 years. Comparisonswere made between adults aged less than 65 years (N = 2371) and thoseaged 65 years and older (N = 636). Results revealed that oldersubjects reported fewer threat and disruption experiences and usedfewer general and disaster-related support services. However, oldersubjects reported higher overall levels of post-traumatic stresssymptoms on the Impact of Event Scale (IES) compared with youngersubjects. On both the IES and a general measure of morbidity (GeneralHealth Questionnaire: GHQ-12) the effects of earthquake exposure weremore marked among the elderly. Within the older group, subjects whohad high levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms (IES > 25, N = 117)were more likely to be female, report higher levels of exposure anduse behavioural and avoidance coping styles. Although psychologicaldistress declined with time, post-traumatic stress symptoms remainedhigher for the high exposure group throughout the study. We concludethat older people may be more at risk for experiencing post-traumaticstress reactions despite having fewer disaster-related experiences.They may also underutilize support services following a disaster.Older women in particular and people with an avoidance coping styleappear to be most vulnerable.
|
| Emner |
