Psychiatry Investig.
2024 Nov;21(11):1279-1285. 10.30773/pi.2024.0201.
Factors Influencing Post-Traumatic Growth in Surviving Students of the Sewol Ferry Disaster: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Psychiatry, National Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- 2Department of International Healthcare Administration, College of Bio and Medical Sciences, Daegu Catholic University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
- 3Division of Health Administration, College of Software and Digital Healthcare Convergence, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea
- 4Maumtodoc Mental Health Clinic, Ansan, Republic of Korea
- 5Department of Psychiatry, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- KMID: 2560900
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2024.0201
Abstract
Objective
Disaster survivors often experience negative impacts on their mental health, but some may also exhibit posttraumatic growth, overcoming adversity, and finding positive outcomes. This study aimed to identify psychological factors influencing posttraumatic growth (PTG) among students who survived the Sewol ferry disaster.
Methods
The study used a longitudinal design. Data were collected at 6-month intervals between high school graduation and 6 years after the ferry disaster. Data were obtained from 48 adolescents who completed self-report measures of rumination, meaning in life, coping, PTG, family adaptability and cohesion. Generalized estimating equation models were fitted to 11 waves of follow-up data.
Results
Intrusive rumination (coefficient [coef]=0.165; p<0.001; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.081–0.250) and deliberate rumination (coef=0.554; p<0.001; 95% CI 0.376–0.732) were significantly associated with PTG. Concerning meaning in life, the presence of meaning (coef=0.312; p<0.001; 95% CI 0.189–0.435) and the search for meaning (coef=0.216; p=0.001; 95% CI 0.093–0.340) were also significantly associated with PTG. Finally, the problem-focused (coef=0.682; p=0.011; 95% CI 0.153–1.210) and emotion-focused (coef=0.736; p=0.009; 95% CI 0.186–1.285) coping strategies both showed significant associations with PTG.
Conclusion
The results of this study indicate that rumination, meaning in life, and adaptive coping (including cognitive and emotional coping) were protective factors for mental health problems among adolescents who survived the Sewol ferry disaster. These psychological factors may promote PTG over time.
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