Psychological wellbeing of survivors of the tsunami: empowerment and quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the empowerment and the quality of life of individuals before and after receiving the psychological services and support interventions.


METHODS
This quasi-experimental research had two hypotheses: 1) the survivors gained empowerment, and 2) the survivors experienced improvement in their quality of life, after receiving the interventions.


METHODS
Krabi province of Thailand.


METHODS
593 survivors of the Tsunami on 26 December 2004.


METHODS
The instrument to assess empowerment was modified from Miller, while the instrument to assess quality of life was WHO-BREF.


RESULTS
After the intervention, the overall mean of empowerment was at the maximum level, and revealed an increased percentage of the quality of life at a good level in all four domains. The level of the psychological domain was the highest.


CONCLUSIONS
The sample showed a significant increase in both empowerment and quality of life (p < 0.001). The findings support the hypotheses.
Faculty of Nursing, Chulalongkorn University, Phyathai Rd, Pratumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. Cpuangti@Chula.ac.th
Puangtip
P
Chaiphibalsarisdi
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013785:Thailand; D055871:Tidal Waves / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*