The Hong Kong Survey on the Epidemiology of Trauma Exposure and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Abstract
This study examined the epidemiology of trauma exposure (TE) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among community‐dwelling Chinese adults in Hong Kong. Multistage stratification sampling design was used, and 5,377 participants were included. In Phase 1, TE, probable PTSD (p‐PTSD), and psychiatric comorbid conditions were examined. In Phase 2, the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM‐IV (SCID‐I) was used to determine the weighted diagnostic prevalence of lifetime full PTSD. Disability level and health service utilization were studied. The findings showed that the weighted prevalence of TE was 64.8%, and increased to 88.7% when indirect TE types were included, with transportation accidents (50.8%) reported as the most common TE. The prevalence of current p‐PTSD among participants with TE was 2.9%. Results of logistic regression suggested that nine specific trauma types were significantly associated with p‐PTSD; among this group, severe human suffering, sexual assault, unwanted or uncomfortable sexual experience, captivity, and sudden and violent death carried the greatest risks for developing PTSD, odds ratio ( OR ) = 2.32–2.69. The occurrence of p‐PTSD was associated with more mental health burdens, including (a) sixfold higher rates for any past‐week common mental disorder, OR = 28.4, (b) more mental health service utilization, p < .001, (c) poorer mental health indexes in level of symptomatology, suicide ideation and functioning, p < .001, and (d) more disability, p s < .001– p = .014. The associations found among TE, PTSD, and health service utilization suggest that both TE and PTSD should be considered public health concerns.
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A 2014 Hong Kong survey found 2.9% of participants developed current probable PTSD.
“A survey based in Hong Kong conducted before the pandemic in 2014 revealed that 2.9% of participants developed current probable PTSD [16]”
From Effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for Chinese adults with PTSD symptoms: protocol for a randomised controlled trial (2024) · cites this paper as [16]
The overall prevalence of direct trauma exposure in Hong Kong was 64.8%, and indirect exposure was 88.7%.
“The overall prevalence of experiencing trauma directly (i.e. responded happened to me on Life Event Checklist ) was 64.8%, while the rate increased further to 88.7% when indirect exposure is included”
From Effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for Chinese adults with PTSD symptoms: protocol for a randomised controlled trial (2024) · cites this paper as [16]
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Mak, B. S. W., Zhang, D., Powell, C. L. Y. M., Leung, M. K. W., Lo, H. H. M., Yang, X., Yip, B. H. K., Lee, E. K. P., Xu, Z., & Wong, S. Y. S. (2024) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-024-05840-x · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“A survey based in Hong Kong conducted before the pandemic in 2014 revealed that 2.9% of participants developed current probable PTSD [16] The overall prevalence of experiencing trauma directly (i.e. responded happened to me on Life Event Checklist ) was 64.8%, while the rate increased further to…”
MethodInfluential
- Authors
- Wu, K. K., Leung, P. W. L., Wong, C. S. M., Yu, P. M. W., Luk, B. T. C., Cheng, J. P. K., Wong, R. M. F., Wong, P. P. S., Lui, J. C. C., Ngan, J. C. F., Leung, F. L. T., & Lam, L. C. W.
- Affiliations
- Hospital Authority (HK)
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (HK)
- University of Hong Kong (HK)
- WAY Psychological Services Hong Kong China
- The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
- Department of Health (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Wu, Kitty K.
- Venue
- Journal of Traumatic Stress
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2019-08-08
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 664-676
- ISSN
- 0894-9867 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-6598
- OpenAlex
- W2967730426
- Cited by
- 29
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 3.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Traumatic Stress (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
- Keywords
- trauma exposure, post-traumatic stress disorder, prevalence, Chinese adults, Hong Kong, transport accidents, sexual assault, captivity, psychiatric comorbidity, common mental disorders, mental health service utilization, disability, suicidal ideation, risk factors
- MeSH terms
- Accidents, Exposure to Violence, Natural Disasters, Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Mental Disorders, Death, Sudden, Disability Evaluation, Female, Hong Kong, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Mental Health Services, Middle Aged, Sex Offenses, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Wounds and Injuries, Comorbidity, Prevalence, Critical Illness, Young Adult, Suicidal Ideation
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