Persistence of Traumatic Symptoms After Seven Years: Evidence from Young Individuals Exposed to the L’Aquila Earthquake

ABSTRACT

In this article, we investigated the presence of trauma-induced sequelae in a sample of 41 young individuals exposed to the L’Aquila earthquake who did not seek mental help in the aftermath of the disaster or in the ensuing months. We compared this group with 43 individuals, matched for age and education, who had not experienced an earthquake but had moved to and lived in L’Aquila after the earthquake and thus experienced the challenges of living in an earthquake-struck city. This study aimed to show that earthquake-exposed individuals scored significantly higher than nonexposed persons on certain scales of the Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI) seven years after the event. Our results indicated that exposed individuals exhibited higher scores on the dissociation, intrusive experience, and defensive avoidance scales. Furthermore, a correlational analysis between specific conditions detected by the Earthquake Checklist L’Aquila (ECLA) and the TSI identified the influences of specific conditions, such as being trapped or injured under rubble during the earthquake, experiencing a persistent fear of aftershocks or a life-threatening feeling, and witnessing the death of a loved one. All of these experiences resulted in the persistence of trauma-related symptoms. Dissociative experiences during the trauma, cognitive and behavioral avoidance and reexperiencing were associated with negative effects and may hinder the natural process of recovery in trauma-exposed individuals. Knowledge of mid- and long-term psychological difficulties following a traumatic event may be useful for promoting interventions in mental health across exposed populations.

KEYWORDS:

• Dissociation
• earthquake
• natural disaster
• PTSD
• trauma-induced sequelae

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Laura Piccardi

Laura Piccardi is an associate professor of general psychology at the Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, L’Aquila University (L’Aquila, Italy), and she cooperates with the Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, in Rome, Italy. Her research addresses the cognitive processes altered as a consequence of trauma and posttraumatic growth.

Massimiliano Palmiero

Massimiliano Palmiero is a researcher at the Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia (Rome, Italy). His research focuses on trauma, mental health, aging, spatial cognition, mental imagery, and creativity.

Raffaella Nori

Raffaella Nori is a researcher at the Department of Psychology, University of Bologna (Bologna, Italy). Her research interests are eclectic; she focuses on the assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder and cognitive skills.

Francesca Baralla

Francesca Baralla, PhD, is a psychologist in clinical and dynamic psychology, a psychotherapist licensed in Clinical Psychology, and a research fellow at the Department of Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome (Rome, Italy). Her research interests are in applied psychology in clinical and forensic contexts.

Pierluigi Cordellieri

Pierluigi Cordellieri is an adjunct professor of general psychology and social psychology at the Pontifical Faculty of Education Sciences, Auxilium, and is a research fellow at “Sapienza” University of Rome (Rome, Italy). He is also a psychotherapist. His main research interests are in legal and moral psychology.

Simonetta D’Amico

Simonetta D’Amico is an associate professor of developmental psychology at the Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila (L’Aquila, Italy). Her interests include trauma over the life span.

Anna Maria Giannini

Anna Maria Giannini is a full professor of general psychology and applied and forensic psychology at the Department of Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome (Rome, Italy). Her research activities focus on the theme of cognitive and emotional processes and the effects of stress and trauma.