Psychometric properties of the Creole Haitian version of the Resilience Scale amongst child and adolescent survivors of the 2010 earthquake

Predictors of Persistence of Anxiety, Hyperarousal Stress, and Resilience During the COVID-19 Epidemic: A National Study in Iran

Background: The coronavirus pandemic can cause unprecedented global anxiety, and, in contrast, resilience can help the mental health of people in stressful situations. This study aimed to assess anxiety, hyperarousal stress, the resilience of the Iranian population, and their related factors during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 31 provinces in Iran between March 18 and 25, 2020. A four-part questionnaire, including the demographic information, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-y1-a 20-item standard questionnaire for obvious anxiety), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-a 25 item standard questionnaire), and the stress hyperarousal subscale from the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), was used to collect data. The ordinal multivariable generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was used to identify correlates of the psychological factors mentioned above. The Fisher exact test was used to investigate the relationship between anxiety, stress, resilience, and the COVID-19 outbreak. All analyses were conducted with SPSS 26 and GIS 10.71. Results: The findings show that most people had moderate-to-severe anxiety (80.17%) and a high level of resilience (96.4%) during the COVID-19 epidemic. The majority of participants had a moderate level of stress (58.9%). The lowest and highest prevalences of psychiatric disorders were in Sistan and Baluchestan (3.14 cases per 100,000 people) and Semnan (75.9 cases per 100,000 people) provinces, respectively. Men and unmarried people were the only variables significantly associated with anxiety and resilience. Age, gender, and education were significantly associated with hyperarousal stress. Conclusion: The high and moderate levels of anxiety and stress in Iranians can have negative effects on the well-being and performance of the people and can lead to serious problems. Also, high resilience during negative life events (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) is associated with the well-being in the lives of people. The results of this study can be used in interventions and other psychological studies.

The Transcultural Community Resilience Scale: Psychometric Properties and Multinational Validity in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Few instruments assess community resilience. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the capacity of communities to support resilience of members deserves to be assessed to develop programs for improving mental health of affected populations. This article presents the development of the Ottawa-Community Resilience Scale (O-CRS), its underlying factorial structure and transcultural validity with a multilingual (English, French, Creole, Kinyarwanda), multinational (DR Congo, Haiti, Rwanda, Togo) and multicultural sample affected by this pandemic. A sample of 1,267 participants (40.9% women) were recruited in the four countries: DRC (n = 626, 43.4% women), Haiti (n = 225, 42.0% women), Rwanda (n = 174, 40.5% women), and Togo (n = 242, 33.2% women), with a mean age of 32 (SD = 10.1). They completed measures assessing individual resilience, depression and the O-CRS. Exploratory and confirmatory Factor Analyses, Cronbach alpha, coefficient H and the McDonald's Omega, and bivariate regression were used to estimate the underlying components of the O-CRS, its internal consistency and concurrent validity. Parallel factorial analysis and confirmatory factor analysis results revealed an excellent fit 3-factor structure. Internal consistency coefficients varied between 0.82 and 0.95. The O-CRS showed a good construct validity with a positive association with individual resilience and negative association with depression score. Developed with a collaborative approach involving researchers, practitioners, and clients/patients, the O-CRS and its three factors (community strengths and support, community trust and faith, and community values) demonstrated excellent psychometric properties for assessing community resilience among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Psychometric Validation of the Persian Version of the COVID-19-Related Psychological Distress Scale and Association with COVID-19 Fear, COVID-19 Anxiety, Optimism, and Lack of Resilience

The outbreak of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in a global health crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused psychological distress, both in infected and uninfected individuals. The present study evaluated the validity and factor structure of the COVID-19-Related Psychological Distress Scale (CORPDS) among the general public of the Persian-speaking population. The original version of the CORPDS was translated and back-translated into Persian, followed by a pilot study. A total sample (n = 623) completed an online survey including the CORPDS, Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), and Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). The Persian CORPDS had very good internal consistency and moderate test-retest reliability after 4 weeks. Maximum likelihood confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to test construct validity (χ2/df = 2.39, CFI = 0.95, SRMR = 0.046, PCLOSE = 0.67 > 0.05, RMSEA = 0.047, 90% CI [0.038, 0.056]). Measurement invariance was performed across gender, including configural invariance, metric invariance, scalar invariance, and error variance invariance, and yielded further support for the two-factor structure of the CORPDS. The CORPDS correlated with the score on the K10 (r = 0.46, p < 0.01, 95% CI [0.43, 0.48]), CAS (r = 0.43, p < 0.01, 95% CI [0.37, 0.45]), FCV-19S (r = 0.29, p < 0.01, 95% CI [0.27, 0.32]), LOT-R (r = - 0.19, p < 0.01, 95% CI [- 0.15, - 0.24]) and BRS (r = - 0.56, p < 0.01, 95% CI [- 0.50, - 0.61]). Resilience was associated with lower psychological distress (β = - 0.54, SE = 0.05, p < 0.001). The findings provide evidence that CORPDS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing psychological distress generated by COVID-19 among a healthy Persian-speaking population.

The resilience scale: factorial structure, reliability, validity, and parenting-related factors among disaster-exposed adolescents

BACKGROUND

In this study, we examined psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Resilience Scale (RS) and parenting-related factors associated with resilience among disaster-exposed adolescents.

METHODS

Eighteen months after the earthquake, a total of 1266 adolescents (43.4% male, mean age = 15.98; SD = 1.28) were assessed using the RS, the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Self-Rating Scale, the Depression Self-rating Scale for Children, the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders, and Parental Bonding Instrument.

RESULTS

Through exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) and parallel analysis, responses were characterized into a 3-factor structure: personal competence, meaningfulness, and acceptance of self and life. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the RS was 0.89 and the test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.72. In terms of predictive validity, resilience was found to be a significant predictor for PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Multiple regression analysis showed that maternal parenting styles were significant predictors of resilience after adjusting for gender, age, sibling number, and earthquake experiences.

CONCLUSIONS

The Chinese version of RS is a reliable and valid tool for assessing resilience among adolescent survivors after disasters. The implications for research and resilience-oriented interventions were also discussed.

Sexual victimization, PTSD, depression, and social support among women survivors of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti: a moderated moderation model

BACKGROUND

In 2010, an important earthquake devastated Haiti and caused thousands of deaths. In a social context where women are particularly vulnerable, this cross-sectional study examined the associations between sexual assaults experienced by women before the earthquake, the earthquake exposure, the traumatic consequences, and their satisfaction of social support received.

METHODS

A total of 660 women aged 18 to 86 completed questionnaires assessing exposure to the earthquake, sexual assault victimization, peritraumatic distress, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and social support. A moderated moderation model was computed to examine associations between exposure to the earthquake, sexual assault, social support, and traumatic consequences.

RESULTS

Results showed that 31.06% of women were victims of sexual assault before the earthquake. They presented higher prevalence of peritraumatic distress, PTSD, and depression symptoms, compared to non-victims. The moderated-moderation model showed that sexual assault and exposure to the earthquake were positively associated with traumatic consequences (respectively, B = 0.560, p < 0.001; B = 0.196, p < 0.001), while social support was negatively associated with them (B = -0.095, p < 0.05). Results showed a triple interaction: women victim of sexual assault who were satisfied with received social support are less likely to develop traumatic consequences after being exposed to the earthquake(B = -0.141, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

By demonstrating the role of sexual assault in the development of mental health problems after the Haitian earthquake, this study shows the importance for clinicians to investigate interpersonal trauma experienced before or following natural disasters among survivors. Results also indicate the key role of family and communities to help survivors build resilience and coping strategies with their social support.

Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and other mental health problems following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The 2010 earthquake in Haiti caused significant human and material damages, thousands of deaths and injuries, and 1.5 million homeless. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to synthesize research on the prevalence and factors associated with PTSD, depression, anxiety symptoms, and other mental health problems among survivors.

METHODS

We searched six databases and retained 50 articles for the systematic review, 28 of which were included in three random effects meta-analyses on the prevalence of PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms in survivors.

RESULTS

Following the earthquake, more than one out of four individuals (28.44%,CI 95%,17.68%-42.37%; k = 24) reported severe symptoms of PTSD, one out of three reported severe symptoms of depression (32.16%,CI 95%,23.60%-42.11%; K=14), and one out of five reported severe symptoms of anxiety (20.49%,CI 95%,15.74%-26.24%;k=5). Studies revealed important rates of other mental health problems (including psychological distress and disturbance, suicidal ideations, and increased alcohol consumption) in survivors. Females were 41.38% more likely than males to experience severe symptoms of PTSD (OR = 1.41,CI 95%,1.22-1.64). Time was a moderator for depression and anxiety but not for PTSD, while the average age of participants only moderated depression.

LIMITATIONS

The studies included are observational and most used self-reported measures.

CONCLUSIONS

In a global context where natural disasters tripled since 1980, this first systematic review showed that human and material damages associated with the earthquake were sufficiently traumatic to induce severe symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems. Clinical and research implications are discussed.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42018115430.

Prevalence of mental health problems in populations affected by the Ebola virus disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Studies have shown that, in addition to being associated with a high mortality rate, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is also related with mental health problems. This study aimed to determine prevalence of mental health problems and associated factors among survivors and individuals affected by EVD. A systematic review of peer-reviewed empirical studies was conducted using EMBASE, PubMed, PsycINFO and PsyARTICLES. A random effects meta-analysis was performed on the proportions of people diagnosed with depression after an EVD outbreak. Of 205 studies initially identified, 21 were included in the systematic review and 10 in the meta-analysis. Results indicated that EVD is associated with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, among others. Results revealed that one person out of five affected to EVD has been diagnosed with depression (standardized mean difference 19.92%, 95% CI 10.43%; 34.70). The I² provided evidence of heterogeneity in the results. This study demonstrated the evidence of the impact of EVD on the mental health of survivors and individuals affected by EVD. Further studies should consider the mental health consequences of EVD to plan culturally sensitive prevention and intervention programs based on the experience of communities affected by EVD.

Predictors of resilience among adolescent disaster survivors: A path analysis

AIMS

To investigate a theoretical model of risk and protective factors to predict resilience among adolescent disaster survivors.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Parent's consent and student's informed consent forms were distributed at seven schools in a postdisaster setting (Yogyakarta, Indonesia) between July-October 2017; those who agreed to participate had to complete the self-reported questionnaires. Demographic data were evaluated using descriptive statistical analyses and relationships among study variables were determined using a path analysis.

RESULTS

Results of the model test analysis indicated that six of the seven the hypothesized paths were supported by data from our samples and demonstrated significance on the path coefficients (p < .01). One path coefficient on the association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and resilience was found to be insignificant (β = -0.002, p > .05). However, overall, our hypothesized model was retained, indicating empirical support and adequate model's fit indices for the theoretical model.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the findings demonstrated the predictive roles of risk and protective factors in adolescent disaster survivors' resilience.

IMPACT

Resilience is known to be an important concept in recovering from long-term impacts following a disaster in adolescent populations, but its risk and protective factors have not been adequately explored. We found that PTSD symptoms influenced how adolescent disaster survivors developed defensive coping, social support had an indirect effect on resilience through courageous coping and defensive coping acted as a mediator between PTSD symptoms and courageous coping. These findings can help mental health professionals (i.e., community mental health nurses) promote intervention strategies to enhance resilience through improving coping skills in adolescent populations exposed to a disaster.

Prevalence of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression After the September 19th, 2017 Earthquake in Mexico

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Natural disasters cause mental disorders, the most frequent are Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, which should be quickly identified for immediate psychological care. The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency of these disturbances in a population with social security, located in the states hit by the earthquake that took place on September 19^th, 2017 in Mexico.

METHODS

To identify persons with PTSD and depression, a random sample of the population was screened (1-2 months' post-earthquake) in primary health care clinics at the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS). A questionnaire for the detection of mental conditions (The Screening Questionnaire for Disaster Mental Health, SQD) was used to select people for group therapy and/or psychotherapeutic support, when identified with severe PTSD and high risk of depression.

RESULTS

Over 44,855 persons (67.9% females, 32.1% males), residents of Mexico City, the State of Mexico, Puebla, Morelos were surveyed. The prevalence of severe PTSD was 11.9% and depression 9.2%. The highest prevalence of PTSD was observed in Mexico City (12.8%) the state with more material damage. Women were at higher risk for PTSD (OR, 2.08; 95% CI 1.97-2.19, p = 0.000) and depression (OR, 1.86; 95% CI 1.72-2.01, p = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of PTSD and depression was higher in those states with severe damage caused by the earthquake; women were more susceptible to mental disorders.

The design and psychometric evaluation of the Adolescents' Resilience in Disaster Tool (ARDT-Q37): A mixed method study

Adolescent resilience after a disaster has been shown to be a protective factor against loss, trauma, and psychological distress. Its importance for successful disaster recovery is widely accepted by disaster risk management professionals, yet very few tools are available to assess adolescent resilience during an emergency or after a natural disaster has occurred. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of a questionnaire designed to measure adolescents' resilience before, during or after a natural disaster. This mixed method study was carried out in three phases involving item generation, systematic review (phase one), qualitative analysis (phase two) and the reduction of items (phase three). The psychometric evaluation of the Adolescents' Resilience in Disaster Tool (ARDT) was conducted using the data from 599 high school students North of Iran (Golestan Province). The initial item pool included 80 items that were reduced to 37 after assessment of validity (face, content and structure) and reliability. Exploratory Factor Analysis found five factors that affect adolescents' resilience which included helping, trusting in God and hopefulness, adaptability, self-confidence and social support. The internal consistency was desirable (α = .86 and ICC = .91; 95% CI: .849 to .948). The psychometric support for the 37-item version of the ARDT in this study indicates strong support for the ARDT-Q37 as a rapid assessment tool to evaluate resilience in adolescents aged 12–18 years old. Identifying the status of adolescents’ resilience and determining their level of need for intervention during and after a natural disaster is critical for long- and short-term outcomes. Implications for policy makers and professionals involved in the preparedness, response and recovery from natural disasters are discussed.

Resilience in Haiti: is it culturally pathological?

Not for the first time in recent history, the people of Haiti have been obliged to fall back on their resilience strategies in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. Following the powerful earthquake that struck the country on 12 January 2010, the entire population had to find the resources to survive in the face of extensive material damage and loss of life: over 222 000 dead, more than 300 000 injured and between 4000 and 7000 amputees (UNDP, 2010).

Domains and Indicators of Resilient Children in Natural Disasters: A Systematic Literature Review

Resilience has received increased attention among both practitioners and scholars in recent years. Child resilience has received notable attention in disaster risk reduction (DRR) during the creation of the Sendai Framework 2015-2030 to improve child protection in the event of disasters. As resilience is a subjective concept with a variety of definitions, this study evaluates its different factors and determinates in the existing research to clarify the path for the near future and objective research. A systematic literature review was conducted by searching and selecting the peer-reviewed papers published in four main international electronic databases including PubMed, SCOPUS, WEB OF SCIENCE, and PsycINFO to answer the research question: "What are the criteria, factors or indicators for child resilience in the context of a natural disaster?" The process was based on PRISMA guidelines. In total, 28 papers out of 1838 were selected and evaluated using thematic analysis. The results are shown in two separate tables: one descriptive and the other analytical. Two main themes and five subthemes for criteria for child resilience in a disaster have been found. The factors found cover the following areas: mental health, spiritual health, physical, social behavior, and ecological, and as well as environmental. The majority of the included studies mentioned the scattered criteria about children resilience without any organized category. Although this concept is multifactorial, additional research is needed to develop this study and also observe other kinds of disasters such as human-made disasters.

Multiple traumas and resilience among street children in Haiti: Psychopathology of survival

In Haiti, as in several developing countries, the phenomenon of street children has become a major public health issue. These children are often victims of traumas and adverse life events. This article aimed to investigate traumas experienced by street children and their coping and resilience strategies used to deal with adversities in a logic of survival, relying on a mixed method approach. A group of 176 street children, aged 7-18 (n = 21 girls), recruited in Port-au-Prince, completed measures assessing PTSD, social support and resilience. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to document traumatic experiences, factors related to resilience and coping strategies. After performing statistical analyses to evaluate prevalence and predictors associated with PTSD, and level of social support satisfaction and resilience, qualitative analysis using a grounded theory approach was conducted. Results showed that street children experienced multiple traumas such as neglect, maltreatment, psychological, physical and sexual abuse. However, they also showed self-efficacy to face their traumatic experiences and few of them (less than 15%) obtained scores reaching clinical rates of PTSD, while a large majority presented a level of resilience between moderate to very high. A socio-ecological model of multiple traumas and a model of coping, survival and resilience strategies are conceptualized. Data provide a better understanding of the traumas experienced by street children, their coping and resilience strategies. Results underscore ways to develop practices to offer psychological support, social and vocational integration based on the real needs of these children, in a perspective of social justice.

Prevalence and determinants of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression symptoms in street children survivors of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, four years after

Working with street children and adolescents who lived through the 2010 earthquake in Port-au-Prince, this paper aims to assess the prevalence of symptoms of PTSD, anxiety and depression in relation to peritraumatic distress, and age, and to explore other risk factors and socio-demographic characteristics, four years after the events. Between March and June 2014, with a sample of 128 children and adolescents (120 boys and 8 girls) aged between 7 and 18, of an average age of 13.88 (SD=2.15), all living on the streets of Port-au-Prince, we used the following scales: the Trauma Exposure (TE), the Life Events Subscale of the CAPS; the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI); the Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-13) and the Children Depression Inventory (CDI); (BAI). Our study reveals a high prevalence of PTSD, depression and anxiety among street children. It also demonstrates that this prevalence is lower than that of several other groups of children who were also victims of the 2010 earthquake in Port-au-Prince. Children living in the streets for economic reasons presented a lower prevalence of symptoms of PTSD, anxiety and depression than those who were on the streets as a result of psychological or physical abuse within their own families, in adoptive families or in children's homes. This study demonstrates the importance of care provision for these children in terms of helping them develop coping and resilience strategies. It also stresses the importance of providing them with nonviolent living environments and opportunities to facilitate their return to normality.

Psychometric properties of the Haitian Creole version of the Resilience Scale with a sample of adult survivors of the 2010 earthquake

BACKGROUND

Resilience is defined as the ability of people to cope with disasters and significant life adversities. The present paper aims to investigate the underlying structure of the Creole version of the Resilience Scale and its psychometric properties using a sample of adult survivors of the 2010 earthquake.

METHODS

A parallel analysis was conducted to determine the number of factors to extract and confirmatory factor analysis was performed using a sample of 1355 adult survivors of the 2010 earthquake from people of specific places where earthquake occurred with an average age of 31.57 (SD=14.42). All participants completed the Creole version of Resilience Scale (RS), the Impact of Event Scale Revised (IES-R), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Social Support Questionnaire (SQQ-6). To facilitate exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the sample was divided into two subsamples (subsample 1 for EFA and subsample 2 for CFA).

RESULTS

Parallel analysis and confirmatory factor analysis results showed a good-fit 3-factor structure. The Cronbach α coefficient was .79, .74 and .72 respectively for the factor 1, 2 and 3 and correlated to each other. Construct validity of the Resilience scale was provided by significant correlation with measures of depression and social support satisfaction, but no correlation was found with posttraumatic stress disorder measure, except for factor 2.

CONCLUSIONS

The results reveal a different factorial structure including 25 items of the RS. However, the Haitian Creole version of RS is a valid and reliable measure for assessing resilience for adults in Haiti.

Long-term outcomes among child and adolescent survivors of the 2010 Haitian earthquake

BACKGROUND

We examined the prevalence and predictive factors of PTSD and depression in relation with peritraumatic distress, trauma exposure, and sociodemographic characteristics among children and adolescent who survived the 2010 Haiti's earthquake.

METHODS

We analyzed data collected between June and July 2012 from a sample of 872 participants aged 7 to 17 in 12 schools, door-to-door canvassing and two centers for street children at Port-au-Prince. Participants completed the Impact of Event Scale Revised (IES-R), Peritraumatic Distress Inventory, Child Depression Inventory 2 (CDI), and sociodemographic and traumatic exposure questionnaires.

RESULTS

Of 872 participants, respectively 322 (36.93%); and 403 (46.21%) reported a clinically significant symptoms of PTSD and depression, which were significantly higher among girls. The best predictive variables are peritraumatic distress for PTSD (β=0.53,P<.0001) a traumatic exposure for depression (β=0.23,P<.0001). The comorbidity between PTSD and depression symptoms is 22.25%.

CONCLUSIONS

This first study in children on the prevalence of PTSD and depression resulting from the 2010 Haiti earthquake demonstrates a need for improvement in treatment aimed at reducing PTSD and depression. Such treatment should be geared primarily toward girls, adolescents between the ages of 14 and 17 and those children and adolescents who have lost a family member in the earthquake.

Assessment of prevalence and determinants of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms in adults survivors of earthquake in Haiti after 30 months

BACKGROUND

On January 12, 2010, a powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Republic of Haiti and destroyed Port-au-Prince, the capital and others cities across the country. While some studies have examined the long-term traumatic effects of the seismic event on children and adolescents victims, so far no study has examined the consequences on adults generally. As such, this study aims to investigate the traumatic consequences of the earthquake among adults related to degree of exposure, peritraumatic distress, depressive symptoms and sociodemographic factors two and a half years after. In addition, predictive factors of PTSD and depressive symptoms were also identified.

METHODS

From June to July 2012, a total of 1355 adults (660 women) was assessed by means the traumatic exposure questionnaire, the Life Events Checklist subscale, the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI), the Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), in addition to social demographic characteristics.

RESULTS

The prevalence rates of PTSD and depressive symptoms were 36.75% (498 cases) and 25.98% (352 cases) respectively. The risk factors for PTSD and depressive symptoms were young and old age, female gender, unemployed status and low level of education. The bests predictives variables were peritraumatic distress for PTSD (β=.57, p<.0001) and for depressive symptoms (β=.21, p<.0001). The commorbidity between PTSD and depression was 13.36%.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that psychological symptoms are frequent event 30 months after the earthquake. The different mental health care providers, the public health ministry, NGOs working on the ground in Haiti should design programmes in order to aid the psychological wellbeing of the population focussing on youth, older and retired adults, females, people with low levels of education and those who do not work.