Effects of Three Sources of Social Support on Survivors' Posttraumatic Stress After the Wenchuan Earthquake

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between social support and symptoms of posttraumatic stress among adolescents who were exposed to the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China. The results showed that three sources of social support—support from family, support from friends, and support from significant others—have significant main effects on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Buffering effects of social support were not supported. Gender and residency were also associated with PTSD, with female adolescents and adolescents from rural areas demonstrating higher levels of PTSD than their male counterparts and adolescents from urban and township areas.

KEYWORDS:

• China
• posttraumatic stress
• social support
• sources of support
• Wenchuan earthquake

Notes

Note. N = 1,929.

*p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001 (2-tailed).

Note. N = 1,929.

^† p < .10; *p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001 (2-tailed).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kaibin Xu

Kaibin Xu is an assistant professor in the Department of Strategic Communication and a faculty member in the Media & Communication Doctoral Program in the School of Media and Communication, Temple University. His research interests include organizational, intercultural, and health communication.

Ping Yuan

Ping Yuan is a professor in the School of Public Health at Sichuan University. She has published numerous articles in a variety of academic journals in the field of public health.