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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms, Coping Styles And Social Support Among Survivors Of The December 26th 2004 Malaysian Tsunami Disaster
Author(s):
Ponnusamy Subramaniam* Chin Hak Ying** Shazli Ezzat Ghazali* Aishvarya Sinniah*** Raynuha Mahadevan***
Institution(s):
*Health Psychology Unit, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
**Permanent Secretary, Royal Malaysian Police Headquarter, 50560 Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
***Department of Psychiatry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Abstract:
Objective:
This study examined the symptoms of PTSD among survivors of the December 26th 2004 Malaysian tsunami disaster, as well as differences among sexes in terms of coping styles and availability of social support.
Methods:
A total of 64 (28 males and 36 females) respondents from several affected districts of Kuala Muda and Langkawi in Kedah and Batu Maung, Pulau Pinang were recruited through purposive sampling. The Detailed Assessment of Posttraumatic Stress (DAPS) was used to measure the posttraumatic stress disorder/symptoms, while the Social Support Questionnaire and Significant Others Scale (Form A) were used to measure the quality and quantity of social support. The COPE Questionnaire was used to measure two coping styles; adaptive and maladaptive coping.
Results:
Fifty two (81%) respondents did not fulfill the DAPS-PTSD criteria while only 12 (19%) fulfilled the criteria. There was no significant difference between men and women in terms of posttraumatic stress-total, and the quantity and quality of social support. However, there is a significant difference in adaptive and maladaptive coping styles among victims who fulfill the PTSD diagnosis and those who did not. It was also found that there is no relationship between PTSD symptoms and emotional support, whereas there is a significant relationship between PTSD symptoms and practical support.
Conclusion:
This research showed that only a small number of respondents fulfilled the diagnosis of PTSD following their experience of a disaster. There were no difference between genders in terms of PTSD symptoms and social support. Among victims who fulfill the PTSD diagnosis and those who do not, there is a significant difference in the adaptive and maladaptive coping styles. As for the relationship between PTSD symptoms and social support, there is a significant relationship between PTSD symptoms and practical support but not with emotional support. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol.10, No.1 Jan - June 2009: XX
Keywords: Tsunami, PTSD, coping styles, social support
For full article, please download the document, below:
 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (format: pdf, size: 400 Kb)
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