• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.411-430
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• 2016

The purpose of the present study was to examine psychological consequences of indirect trauma exposure through the disaster news. Participants(N=439) completed some self-report questionnaires such as Posttraumatic Risk Checklist(PRC), Impact of Event Scale-Revised(IES-R), and Multidimensional Fear of Death Scale(MFODS) at 68.11(±18.47) days after the Sewol ferry disaster. The data were analyzed with structural equation modeling by AMOS 23.0 program. The results showed that fear of death and periand post-traumatic crisis factors mediated the association of news exposure immediately after disaster and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Findings in this study indicated that news exposure immediately after disaster influenced fear of death which led to the peri- and post-traumatic crisis, and these crisis factors increased posttraumatic stress symptoms. Finally, limitations of this study and suggestions for future study were discussed.

• Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2017

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate psychological effects of an outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), a newly emerged infectious disease, on doctors. Methods After the MERS outbreak was over, we conducted an online survey of doctors who worked at the hospitals in which exposure to MERS cases had been confirmed or who were directly involved in MERS diagnosis and treatment. The Patient Health Questionnaires-9 (PHQ-9) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) assessment methods were used to assess the severity of depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms among the 64 doctors participating in the survey. Results The results of the survey indicate that 26.6% (n=17) of participants exhibited depressive symptoms and 7.8% (n=5) had post-traumatic stress symptoms. The doctors employed at hospitals with MERS cases had higher PHQ-9 and IES-R mean scores than those in doctors were not so employed. In contrast, there was no significant difference in those test scores between doctors who participated directly in MERS diagnosis and treatment and those doctors who did not. Conclusion The survey demonstrated that 28.1% (n=18) of doctors involved in MERS care suffered from depressive or posttraumatic stress symptoms, even though the MERS infection was being controlled. Working at a hospital with MERS cases was the primary determinant of the adverse psychological outcomes among doctors ; however, direct participation in the diagnosis and care of MERS patients was not significantly related to such outcomes.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.561-572
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy(ACT) on Complex PTSD symptoms, acceptance and post-traumatic growth of college students with childhood emotional abuse. Four hundred and fifty students in university completed Acceptance and action Questionnaire(AAQ-II), Structured interview for disorders of extrem stress(SIDES), Korea version posttraumatic growth inventory(K-PTGI). 14 participants was selected from that result. 7 participants were assigned to the ACT group and the others were in the control group. ACT program was administered for 8 sessions twice a week for 2 month, approximately 100 minutes. There was no treatment in the control group. All participants completed post-test at the end of treatment and then follow-up test after 6 weeks. The results were that complex PTSD symptoms level in ACT group was significant decreased and acceptance and post-traumatic growth level in ACT group were significant increased than those in control group at the end of treatment and the follow-up period. Finally, the implications and the limitations of this study, and the suggestions for future study were also discussed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.387-395
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the physical and mental health status of disaster victims according to disaster types, such as a typhoon disaster and an oil spill disaster, and to suggest adequate health care services for them. Methods: A total of 484 people who suffered disasters were selected for this study, and data were collected from July to August, 2008. The data-set for this study included 286 victims of typhoon disasters in Jeju and Jeollanamdo district in South Korea, and 198 victims of the oil spill disaster in Taean. Physical health status was measured using revised Patient Health Questionnaire and mental health status was measured using the Korean version of 'Post-traumatic Diagnostic Scale'. Results: According to the comparative analyses of typhoon disaster victims and oil spill disaster victims, poorer physical health outcomes were shown among the oil spill disaster victims when compared to the typhoon disaster victims. Also, the oil spill disaster victims showed symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, at rates higher than those found among the typhoon disaster victims. Conclusions: These findings suggest that there is a need to provide adequate physical and mental health-related care services for oil spill disaster victims. The seriousness of oil spill disaster should be realized and reconsidered in developing recovery strategies and disaster preparedness for physical and mental health services.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.217-225
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess socio-demographic, disaster-related, physical health-related, psychological, and social factors that may adversely affect disaster victims' QoL (Quality of Life). Methods: A cross sectional study was designed by using the secondary data. From the 3rd Disaster Victims Panel Survey (2012~2017), a total of 1,659 data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, and multivariate linear regression. Results: Older people with lower health status lacking financial resources prior to a disaster were more at risk of low levels of QoL. Lower levels of perceived health status, resilience, and QoL were reported by disaster exposed individuals, while their depression was higher than the depression in the control group of disaster unexposed ones. Resilience, social and material supports were positively associated with QoL whereas depression and PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders) were negatively associated. Conclusion: These findings suggest that psychological symptoms and loss due to disasters can have adverse impacts on the QoL of disaster victims in accordance with their prior socio-demographic background. They also indicate that targeted post-disaster community nursing intervention should be considered a means of increased social support as well as physical and mental health care for disaster victims.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2012

Objective : This study aims to investigate the relationship between addictive mobile phone use and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in bullies who experienced school violence. Methods : The study subjects consisted of 97 adolescents in The Foundation for Preventing Youth Violence after school violence. The participants conducted self-report questionnaire for addictive mobile phone use and Impacted Event Scale-revised-Korean version (IES-R-K). Partial correlation and multiple logistic regressions were performed. Results : The scores related to addictive mobile phone use were correlated with total score (r=0.21, p=0.04), avoidance score (r=0.21, p=0.04) and intrusive score (r=0.26, p=0.01) related to PTSD symptoms on the IES-R-K. Intrusive score related to PTSD symptoms on the IES-R-K were significant risk factor for addictive mobile phone use (O.R=1.25, 95% CI=1.12-1.39). Conclusion : This data supports that PTSD intrusive symptoms could be predictable factor of addictive mobile phone use. An appropriate intervention about PTSD symptoms might play a useful role in preventing addictive mobile phone use in bullies of school violence.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.277-289
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• 2018

Background: Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS), the subject of this evaluative research document employs 1400 people. 80% of employees are operational firefighters and officers whom operate across a range of duty systems and support functions, providing prevention, protection and emergency response to the communities of Lancashire. Methods: The overarching purpose of this epidemiological study is to assess the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) amongst operational LFRS personnel and to analyse the effects upon those who may be suffering from it, whether brought about by a single traumatic event or by repeated exposure to traumatic occurrences over a period of time. A combination of primary and secondary research was carried out. Primary data was collated using two recognised clinical questionnaires and statistical analysis was conducted with the aid of the software package SPSS. Results: The findings and statistical analysis showed that out of the 100 people surveyed, 30% of respondents had signs of probable distress. Of this quota, 4% showed symptoms of PTSD. The study considers how an organisation can recognise and manage PTSD and provides recommendations to assist in better recognising and managing the associated risks. Conclusion: Based upon the findings, the authors conclude that the level of PTSD within LFRS is slightly lower than those found in other studies undertaken within the Fire and Rescue Service sector. The paper provides recommendations for future studies and a series of actions for consideration by LFRS senior management to improve PTSD support services for employees.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.88-98
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• 2018

Objective : The purpose of this study was to establish a school-based mental health intervention. The success of which was indexed by its effects on the social anxiety symptoms of the enrolled adolescents. Methods : This program for promoting mental health among adolescents in the community was adopted by three middle schools that volunteered to participate in the project. The program included screening for emotional problems related to social anxiety, depression, suicide, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Case management was provided for groups considered high-risk for depression, suicide, or post-traumatic stress disorder; cognitive-behavior therapy was provided for those at high-risk of developing social anxiety. Additionally, educational programs for the prevention of suicide, a "loving life" module, and mental health promotional campaigns were also included. In total, 1,100 middle school students completed self-report questionnaires. Twenty-five students in the high-risk group for social anxiety participated in a cognitive-behavior therapy program, comprising eight sessions, and conducted by two clinical psychologists. Results : Following the suicide prevention education program, suicide awareness among students increased and coping strategies were improved. In addition, the loving life program was associated with positive self-perceptions by many students. Furthermore, social anxiety symptoms showed a statistically significant difference after the cognitive-behavior therapy program. After the therapy, not only did social anxiety symptoms improve, depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation decreased significantly, while self-esteem and psychological resilience significantly increased. Conclusion : A school-based mental health intervention was successfully implemented in three middle schools and improved the mental health of the participating students. Therefore, this intervention could be widely implemented to promote positive mental health among middle school students.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.475-484
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• 2016

The purpose of this article is to investigate how returning veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develop psycho-social issues and describe how helping professionals can assist them with re-adapting to the community. Based on a literature review, the author explores the causes of psycho-social issues of returning veterans with PTSD, reviews various ways of helping, and proposes critical factors that helping professionals should be aware of when intervening in psycho-social issues of returning veterans with PTSD. It is found that psycho-social issues of returning veterans with PTSD are closely related to their distrust and aversion to authorities. Group therapy can be used as a viable intervention for alleviating PTSD symptoms and derived psycho-social issues in terms that veterans with PTSD tend to more open with other group members who can share and understand unique experiences.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.269-278
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• 2022

Background: PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD) had a great impact on health care workers during the COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019, COVID-19). Better knowledge of the prevalence of PTSD and its risk factors is a major public health problem. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence and important risk factors of PTSD among medical staff during the COVID-19. Methods: The databases were searched for studies published during the COVID-19, and a PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis) compliant systematic review (PROSPERO-CRD 42021278970) was carried out to identify articles from multiple databases reporting the prevalence of PTSD outcomes among medical staff. Proportion random effect analysis, I² statistic, quality assessment, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis were carried out. Results: A total of 28 cross-sectional studies and the PTSD results of doctors and nurses were summarized from 14 and 27 studies: the prevalences were 31% (95% CI [confidence interval, CI]: 21%-40%) and 38% (95% CI: 30%-45%) in doctors and nurses, respectively. The results also showed seven risks (p < 0.05): long working hours, isolation wards, COVID-19 symptoms, nurses, women, fear of infection, and pre-existing mental illness. Two factors were of borderline significance: higher professional titles and married. Conclusion: Health care workers have a higher prevalence of PTSD during COVID-19. Health departments should provide targeted preventive measures for medical staff away from PTSD.