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Perceived community participation in tsunami recovery efforts and the mental health of tsunami-affected mothers: Findings from a study in rural Sri Lanka

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  • K.A.S. Wickrama

    (Department of Family & Human Development, Iowa State University, Ames, US, s2kas@iastate.edu)

  • T. Wickrama

    (Department of Family & Human Development, Auburn University, Alabama, US)

Abstract

Background: The 2004 tsunami seriously affected millions of families in several developing countries by destroying their livelihoods, houses and communities, subsequently damaging social and physical resources. Disaster studies have documented that both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression develop during the first six months following disaster exposure for the majority of those afflicted. Aims and Methods: Using data from 325 tsunami-affected families living in southern Sri Lanka, the current study investigates whether community social resources such as residents’ perceived community participation in tsunami recovery efforts reduce mental health risks (PTSD and depressive symptoms) of tsunami-affected mothers. The analysis is based on structural equation modelling. Results and Conclusions: The findings of structural equation modelling supports the main hypothesis that residents’ perceived community participation directly and indirectly (through collective family functioning and mental health service use) reduces mental health risks (both PTSD and depressive symptoms) of tsunami-affected mothers after controlling for pre-tsunami family adversities. In addition, the results show that residents’ perceived community participation buffers the influence of trauma exposure on PTSD symptom levels of mothers. The identification of specific social and family processes that relate to mental health can be useful for post-disaster interventions and recovery programmes.

Suggested Citation

  • K.A.S. Wickrama & T. Wickrama, 2011. "Perceived community participation in tsunami recovery efforts and the mental health of tsunami-affected mothers: Findings from a study in rural Sri Lanka," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 57(5), pages 518-527, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:57:y:2011:i:5:p:518-527
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764010374426
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rajkumar, Anto P. & Premkumar, Titus S. & Tharyan, Prathap, 2008. "Coping with the Asian tsunami: Perspectives from Tamil Nadu, India on the determinants of resilience in the face of adversity," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(5), pages 844-853, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Wen & Tsuji, Taishi & Yokoyama, Meiko & Ide, Kazushige & Aida, Jun & Kawachi, Ichiro & Kondo, Katsunori, 2021. "Increased frequency of participation in civic associations and reduced depressive symptoms: Prospective study of older Japanese survivors of the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).

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