Childrens Disaster Experiences and Psychological Symptoms: An International Comparison between the Chilean Earthquake, Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina

Improved understanding of the psychological impact on children following natural disasters is needed to assist with psychological recovery. The purpose of this exploratory study was to compare the disaster experiences and psychological symptoms of children, ages 8 to 17, following the Chilean earthquake and tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina. Over one-third of all students (N=827) met the symptom cut-off for mental health referral. Two one-sided test (TOST) procedures revealed similar symptom levels among the Chilean and Hurricane Katrina samples and similar numbers of reported disaster experiences. Interestingly, the Chilean earthquake and tsunami sample reported more direct disaster related losses and the Hurricane Katrina sample reported more recovery related issues. The findings suggest that even with cultural and type of disaster experience differences, childrens responses to disasters are similar across cultures and that mental health services are needed to support recovery.

Información de Publicación

Autores:

Javiera Navarro

Institución: Universidad Alberto Hurtado
Facultad: Psicología
Unidad: Psicología

Ricardo Pulido

Facultad: Psicología
Unidad: Psicología

Mauricio Arteaga

Facultad: Psicología
Unidad: Psicología

Berger, Christian

Institución: PUC

Osofsky, Howard

Institución: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

Osofsky, Joy

Institución: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

Cross, Tonya

Institución: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

Revista:

International Social Work

Año:

2016

Mes:

Diciembre

Número:

4

Páginas:

ene.-14

Url de Publicación:

http://isw.sagepub.com/content/early/2014/09/10/0020872814537850.abstract.