J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs.  2018 Jun;27(2):179-188. 10.12934/jkpmhn.2018.27.2.179.

Factors associated with Quality of Life of Parents who Lost Children in the Sewol Ferry Disaster

• Yoon S
• Kim M
• Ju S

• KMID: 2415251
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2018.27.2.179

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study aimed to (1) explore current levels of quality of life, depression, resilience and social support and (2) investigate factors associated with quality of life among parents who lost children in the Sewol ferry disaster.
METHODS
Data for this descriptive and correlation study was collected from December 2016 to June 2017. Structured questionnaires were completed by 114 parents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multivariate linear regression.
RESULTS
Lower levels of quality of life were reported by parents with no current occupation, who considered emotional support by others as not helpful, not disclosing self as family of a victim, experiencing change in social activities related to the disaster, and not participating in bereavement activities with other families (all p values <.05). Factors associated with quality of life were depression (β=−.53) and resilience (β=.26) and explained 48.0% variance (F=50.37, p<.001), while social support was not a significant factor.
CONCLUSION
Our study findings provide fundamental information on the mental health status of families of the Sewol ferry disaster victims. Nursing interventions to improve quality of life of parents who lost their children in the disaster should emphasize both managing depression and improving resilience.

Keyword

Disasters; Quality of life; Depression; Resilience, psychological; Social support

MeSH Terms

Bereavement
Child*
Depression
Disaster Victims
Disasters*
Humans
Linear Models
Mental Health
Nursing
Occupations
Parents*
Quality of Life*
Resilience, Psychological
Statistics as Topic

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