One year later: Mental health problems among survivors in hard-hit areas of the Wenchuan earthquake.
Abstract
Objectives To investigate the prevalence of probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression, and to identify risk factors related to these mental disorders among hard-hit survivors 1 year after the earthquake in Wenchuan, China. Study design : Cross-sectional survey. Methods A door-to-door survey covering the entire temporary community was undertaken to investigate 1195 adult earthquake survivors. The survey instruments included a questionnaire determining exposure to the earthquake, the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C), the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25 (HSCL-25), and the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were undertaken to examine potential risk factors. Results The prevalence rates of probable PTSD, anxiety and depression were 26.3%, 49.8% and 49.6%, respectively. Risk factors varied between the disorders. Among middle-aged and elderly people, bodily injury, loss of livelihood and initial fear during the earthquake were independently and significantly associated with all three mental disorders, while female gender was independently and significantly associated with PTSD and depression. Conclusions PTSD, anxiety and depression remained at an elevated level among survivors in hard-hit regions 1 year after the earthquake in Wenchuan. The groups at high risk of mental problems should be specifically attended.
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Females are more susceptible to PTSD than males.
“Zhang et al. (2011) showed that females are more susceptible to PTSD, in addition to other studies (Baloğlu et al., 2005; Farooqui et al., 2017).”
From Post-traumatic stress, sense of coherence, and growth after the February earthquake: Evidence from teacher training institute students in Syria (2025) · cites this paper as Zhang et al., 2011
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- Authors
- Zhang, Z., Shi, Z., Wang, L., & Liu, M.
- Affiliations
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Wang, L.
- Venue
- Public Health
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-05
- Volume
- 125
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 293-300
- ISSN
- 0033-3506 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2093942767
- Cited by
- 167
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 17.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Public Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Institutional Repository of Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Keywords
- Wenchuan earthquake, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, earthquake survivors, mental health, risk factors, personal injury, livelihood loss, perceived social support, gender differences
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anxiety, China, Cross-Sectional Studies, Data Collection, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Risk Factors, Social Support, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Prevalence, Young Adult, Earthquakes
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