title: A comparison of the acute stress reactions between the Han and Tibetan ethnic groups in responding to devastating earthquakes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether there were differences in the acute stress reaction (ASR) between the Tibetan and the Han ethnic groups after experiencing devastating earthquakes.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twelve Han survivors of the Wenchuan earthquake and 112 Tibetan survivors of the Yushu earthquake were rated using the PTSD Checklist-Civilian (PCL-C) according to their trauma experiences, ages, genders, severity levels of injuries, and medical services received.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Injured Tibetans had lower scores across symptom clusters of avoidance, numbing, and the total score of PCL-C as compared to Hans. Among Tibetans, severe ASR was associated with a higher education level and earthquake experience, whereas only earthquake experience was associated with severe ASR among injured Hans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cultural factors may play significant roles in the acute stress reaction of survivors with different cultural backgrounds following an earthquake.
authors.affiliation: West China Hospital, Mental Health Center, Chengdu, China. xjj120@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jiajun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yangyang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yanchuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004190:Disasters; D055866:Earthquakes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D040701:Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult