The role of natural disaster in individual and relational adjustment in Sri Lankan mothers following the 2004 tsunami

Keywords

mental health, mothers, Sri Lanka, tsunami

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the associations between maternal mental health distress symptoms, including depression and post‐traumatic stress disorder, the extent to which the presence of a child's disaster‐related physical health problem(s) have interfered with daily functioning, and family cohesion over time among Sri Lankan mothers who survived the tsunami on 26 December 2004. Study variables were measured using a self‐report questionnaire administered approximately four months after the event and three years later in summer 2008. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted. Path analysis was employed to assess the relationships between the key variables over time and the correlations in the study variables at each time point. Among other findings, the results of the path analysis indicated that post‐traumatic stress symptom distress four months after the disaster significantly predicted variance in family cohesion three years later. Clinical and empirical research implications are presented and discussed.

Original Publication Citation

Banford, A.,Ivey, D., Wickrama, T., Fischer, J., Prouty, A., & Smith, D. (2016). The role ofnatural disaster in individual and relational adjustment in Sri Lankan mothers following the 2004 tsunami.Disasters,40(1), 134-157,doi: 10.1111/disa.12137.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2015-08-13

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/5323

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS