TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2017//
TI  - Moderate depression promotes posttraumatic growth (pPtg): a young population survey 2 years after the 2009 l'Aquila earthquake
JO  - Clinical practice and epidemiology in mental health
A1  - Bianchini, V.
A1  - Giusti, L.
A1  - Salza, A.
A1  - Cofini, V.
A1  - Cifone, M. G.
A1  - Casacchia, M.
A1  - Fabiani, L.
A1  - Roncone, Rita
SP  - 10
EP  - 19
VL  - 13
IS  - 
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 1745-0179
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1745017901713010010
ID  - ref1
ER  -