@article{ref1,
title="Moderate depression promotes posttraumatic growth (pPtg): a young population survey 2 years after the 2009 l'Aquila earthquake",
journal="Clinical practice and epidemiology in mental health",
year="2017",
author="Bianchini, V. and Giusti, L. and Salza, A. and Cofini, V. and Cifone, M. G. and Casacchia, M. and Fabiani, L. and Roncone, Rita",
volume="13",
number="",
pages="10-19",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Earthquakes can result in a range of psychopathology and in negative and positive consequences for survivors. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between clinical aftereffects (anxiety and depressive symptoms) and post-traumatic growth (PTG) among young survivors of the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake, Italy. <br><br>METHOD: 316 young earthquake survivors enrolled in the University of L'Aquila were evaluated two years after the natural disaster. Participants completed three main questionnaires, including Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items (PHQ-9), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). <br><br>RESULTS: 59.6% of the student sample showed different levels of depression, whereas 13.3% reported anxiety symptoms. In both clinical dimensions (anxiety and depression), gender differences were found: female gender was confirmed risk factor for a clinical post-traumatic response. Personal PTG, demonstrated by 18% of the L'Aquila youths included in our sample, was predicted by moderate levels of depression (O.R. 2.7). In our model, gender, age, and anxiety did not show any predictive value. <br><br>CONCLUSION: In a post-traumatic setting, the development of individual cognitive strategies is crucial, whereas after a natural disaster, paradoxically, a moderate depressive condition and the related distress could promote the drive to overcome the psychological consequences of the traumatic event.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1745-0179",
doi="10.2174/1745017901713010010",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1745017901713010010"
}