The role of natural disaster in individual and relational adjustment in Sri Lankan mothers following the 2004 tsunami.
The purpose of this study is to examine the associations between maternal mental health distress symptoms, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, the extent to which the presence of a child's disaster-related physical health problem(s) have interfered with daily functioning, and family cohesion over time among Sri Lankan mothers who survived the tsunami on 26 December 2004. Study variables were measured using a self-report questionnaire administered approximately four months after the event and three years later in summer 2008. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted. Path analysis was employed to assess the relationships between the key variables over time and the correlations in the study variables at each time point. Among other findings, the results of the path analysis indicated that post-traumatic stress symptom distress four months after the disaster significantly predicted variance in family cohesion three years later. Clinical and empirical research implications are presented and discussed.
PhD is Assistant Professor at Alliant International University, United States.
Alyssa
A
Banford
PhD is Professor at Texas Tech University, United States.
David C
DC
Ivey
PhD is Dean of Postgraduate Studies at Colombo Institute of Research and Psychology, Sri Lanka.
Thulitha
T
Wickrama
PhD is Professor at Texas Tech University, United States.
Judith
J
Fischer
PhD is Associate Professor at Texas Tech University, United States.
Anne
A
Prouty
PhD is Associate Professor at Texas Tech University, United States.
Douglas
D
Smith
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004190:Disasters; D000066498:Emotional Adjustment; D005195:Family Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013188:Sri Lanka; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057192:Tsunamis
Sri Lanka; mental health; mothers; tsunami