Posttraumatic Growth in the 2010 Haitian Earthquake Survivors and Its Relationship With Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Three Years After the Earthquake

Abstract

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were examined for a sample of 256 Haitians after they were exposed to the 2010 earthquake. Participants completed a survey containing measures of PTSD and PTG. A bivariate correlation analysis indicated a positive relationship between PTG and PTSD symptoms and an inverse relationship between PTG and the experience of the earthquake. A t-test analysis showed that females had significantly higher scores on PTSD symptoms compared to their male counterparts. However, no significant gender differences were found on the participants’ mean scores for PTG. Researchers and mental health professionals should not only focus on the negative but also the positive outcomes of natural disasters.

Keywords:

• Posttraumatic growth
• natural disaster survivors
• 2010 Haitian Earthquake

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jean Kesnold Mesidor

Jean Kesnold Mesidor is an assistant clinical professor in the Florida State University College of Medicine (FSUCOM), Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine. He is a Florida Licensed Psychologist, with a focus on clinical health psychology. His program research focuses on chronic disease (type II diabetes) management with low literacy populations and the impact of trauma on health.