Citation

Xiaofei Xie, Huimin Liu, Yiqun Gan. Environ. Behav. 2011; 43(4): 566-586.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0013916510363535

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The objective of the current study was to explore the influence of the belief in a just world (BJW) on the psychological well-being among earthquake victims following the Great Wenchuan Earthquake. A sample of Chinese undergraduates (N = 494) completed a battery of questionnaires, including the Just World Scale, the Feelings of Uncertainty Scale, the Future Scale, the Hope Scale, the Self-Rating Depression Scale, and the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale. Results provided strong support for the important role of personal BJW in maintaining postquake mental health. BJW had a greater effect on particularly vulnerable victim groups, such as woman participants and participants who had suffered the loss of their families or friends in the earthquake. Besides, feelings of uncertainty and future orientation partially mediated the relationship between BJW and psychological well-being (depression, anxiety, and hope). Theoretical and practical implications were discussed, and future research directions were provided.