title: Media exposure related to the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake predicted probable PTSD among Chinese adolescents in Kunming, China: A longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the prevalence and the psychosocial predictors of probable PTSD among Chinese adolescents in Kunming (approximately 444 miles from the epicenter), China, who were indirectly exposed to the Sichuan Earthquake in 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a longitudinal study design, primary and secondary school students (N = 3577) in Kunming completed questionnaires at baseline (June 2008) and 6 months afterward (December 2008) in classroom settings. Participants' exposure to earthquake-related imagery and content, perceptions and emotional reactions related to the earthquake, and posttraumatic stress symptoms were measured. Univariate and forward stepwise multivariable logistic regression models were fit to identify significant predictors of probable PTSD at the 6-month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalences of probable PTSD (with a Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale score ≥30) among the participants at baseline and 6-month follow-up were 16.9% and 11.1% respectively. In the multivariable analysis, those who were frequently exposed to distressful imagery had experienced at least two types of negative life events, perceived that teachers were distressed due to the earthquake, believed that the earthquake resulted from damages to the ecosystem, and felt apprehensive and emotionally disturbed due to the earthquake reported a higher risk of probable PTSD at 6-month follow-up (all ps < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to distressful media images, emotional responses, and disaster-related perceptions at baseline were found to be predictive of probable PTSD several months after indirect exposure to the event. Parents, teachers, and the mass media should be aware of the negative impacts of disaster-related media exposure on adolescents' psychological health. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Houston.
authors.forename: Nelson C Y
authors.initials: NCY
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.affiliation: The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Joseph T F
authors.initials: JTF
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Social Sciences, The City University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Nancy Xiaonan
authors.initials: NX
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Kunming Medical University.
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Youth and Juvenile Studies, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
authors.forename: Zhening
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Kai Chow
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7157-8668
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: The School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Winnie W S
authors.initials: WWS
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.affiliation: Hospital Authority.
authors.forename: Wacy W S
authors.initials: WWS
authors.lastname: Lui
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002681:China; D055866:Earthquakes; D004644:Emotions; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015995:Prevalence; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D014796:Visual Perception