Citation

Choi YJ, Choi HB, O'Donnell M. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018; 15(2): e15020362.

Affiliation

Phoenix Australia, Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia. mod@unimelb.edu.au.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, MDPI: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)

DOI

10.3390/ijerph15020362

PMID

29463030

Abstract

This study sought to describe the mental health problems experienced by Korean disaster survivors, using a qualitative research method to provide empirical resources for effective disaster mental health support in Korea. Participants were 16 adults or elderly adults who experienced one or more disasters at least 12 months ago recruited via theoretical sampling. Participants underwent in-depth individual interviews on their disaster experiences, which were recorded and transcribed for qualitative analysis, which followed Strauss and Corbin's (1998) Grounded theory. After open coding, participants' experiences were categorized into 130 codes, 43 sub-categories and 17 categories. The categories were further analyzed in a paradigm model, conditional model and the Disaster Reintegration Model, which proposed potentially effective mental health recovery strategies for disaster survivors, health providers and administrators. To provide effective assistance for mental health recovery of disaster survivors, both personal and public resilience should be promoted while considering both cultural and spiritual elements.

Language: en

Keywords

disaster; mental health; posttraumatic stress disorder; psychological recovery; qualitative research