title: Interpersonal Trust and Ability of Elderly Victims to Perform Activities of Daily Living in the Ya'an Earthquake Reconstruction Area, China.
abstract: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of the socioeconomic status and interpersonal trust of elderly victims of the Ya'an earthquake on their ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs).
  
  
  
  Random sampling was done in the 8 counties of Ya'an in Sichuan, China (N=691). A multistage random sampling method was used. Samples were selected from counties, towns, and villages, respectively. The Faith in People Scale was used to measure interpersonal trust, and the Barthel ADL Index was used to measure ADLs. Both scales have strong reliability.
  
  
  
  A total of 37.34% of elderly earthquake victims relied on others moderately to live, and their self-rating of interpersonal trust was relatively unfavorable. Factors such as being female, being widowed, having a low educational level, and income negatively affected ADLs, among which education had the greatest influence. Interpersonal trust was vital in enhancing the level of ADLs of elderly victims.
  
  
  
  A high level of interpersonal trust can significantly improve the ADLs of elderly persons. However, this may be achieved by weakening the negative effect of deteriorating social structure of victims. Attention should be focused on elderly victims whose social network worsens to improve their ADLs. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;page 1 of 7).
authors: 1Department of Social Work and Social Policy,School of Social and Behavioral Sciences,Nanjing University,Nanjing,People's Republic of China.
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Liang
authors: 2Department of Mathematics,Nanjing University,Nanjing,People's Republic of China.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Ju
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China; D064891:Disaster Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D055866:Earthquakes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust
keywords: earthquakes; health impact assessment; natural disasters; psychological; public health; resilience