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Before and after the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake: Traumatic events and depressive symptoms in an older population

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  • Seplaki, Christopher L.
  • Goldman, Noreen
  • Weinstein, Maxine
  • Lin, Yu-Hsuan

Abstract

Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, can have deleterious consequences for physical and psychological health. In this study, we investigate variability in resilience to depressive symptoms in the aftermath of a massive earthquake that struck Taiwan in 1999. We analyze data on 1160 older individuals from a national, longitudinal survey with interviews before and after the earthquake. This survey contains extensive information on physical and cognitive function, depressive symptoms, socio-demographic characteristics and earthquake-related exposure and experiences. We estimate regression models to identify risk factors associated with the presence of depressive symptoms after the disaster, controlling for health status and the presence of depressive symptoms beforehand. We pay special attention to how socio-demographic factors moderate the psychological impact of the earthquake. Results indicate that persons of low socioeconomic status (SES), socially isolated individuals, and women reported higher levels of depressive symptoms than their respective counterparts, as did persons who experienced damage to their homes. The psychological effects of damage were strongest among those aged 54-70. The findings suggest that people who experience damage to their home during a disaster are at risk of experiencing depressive symptoms, with the elderly being more resilient than the near-elderly.

Suggested Citation

  • Seplaki, Christopher L. & Goldman, Noreen & Weinstein, Maxine & Lin, Yu-Hsuan, 2006. "Before and after the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake: Traumatic events and depressive symptoms in an older population," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(12), pages 3121-3132, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:62:y:2006:i:12:p:3121-3132
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    Cited by:

    1. Alpo Kapuka & Tomáš Hlásny, 2020. "Social Vulnerability to Natural Hazards in Namibia: A District-Based Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-21, June.
    2. Zhang, Lixia & Li, Shaoting & Ren, Yanjun, 2024. "Does internet use benefit the mental health of older adults? Empirical evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 10(3), pages 1-15.
    3. Shou Liu & Li Lu & Zheng-Zhong Bai & Min Su & Zheng-Qing Qi & Shi-Yu Zhang & Yuan Chen & Bing-Yu Ao & Feng-Zhen Cui & Emmanuel Lagarde & Kehshin Lii, 2019. "Post-Traumatic Stress and School Adaptation in Adolescent Survivors Five Years after the 2010 Yushu Earthquake in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-10, October.
    4. Bihan Tang & Yang Ge & Chen Xue & Peng Kang & Yuan Liu & Xu Liu & Zhipeng Liu & Wenya Yu & Lulu Zhang, 2015. "Health Status and Risk Factors among Adolescent Survivors One Month after the 2014 Ludian Earthquake," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-11, June.
    5. Lund, Crick & Breen, Alison & Flisher, Alan J. & Kakuma, Ritsuko & Corrigall, Joanne & Joska, John A. & Swartz, Leslie & Patel, Vikram, 2010. "Poverty and common mental disorders in low and middle income countries: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(3), pages 517-528, August.
    6. Liang, Jersey & Wang, Chia-Ning & Xu, Xiao & Hsu, Hui-Chuan & Lin, Hui-Shen & Lin, Yu-Hsuan, 2010. "Trajectory of functional status among older Taiwanese: Gender and age variations," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(6), pages 1208-1217, September.
    7. Chongming Wang & Brent Yarnal, 2012. "The vulnerability of the elderly to hurricane hazards in Sarasota, Florida," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 63(2), pages 349-373, September.
    8. Yukari Yokoyama & Kotaro Otsuka & Norito Kawakami & Seiichiro Kobayashi & Akira Ogawa & Kozo Tannno & Toshiyuki Onoda & Yumi Yaegashi & Kiyomi Sakata, 2014. "Mental Health and Related Factors after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(7), pages 1-10, July.
    9. Matsuyama, Yusuke & Aida, Jun & Hase, Akihiro & Sato, Yukihiro & Koyama, Shihoko & Tsuboya, Toru & Osaka, Ken, 2016. "Do community- and individual-level social relationships contribute to the mental health of disaster survivors?: A multilevel prospective study after the Great East Japan Earthquake," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 187-195.
    10. Aely Park, 2020. "The Impact of Childhood and Adult Educational Attainment and Economic Status on Later Depressive Symptoms and Its Intergenerational Effect," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-14, December.

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