Journal List > J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs > v.30(3) > 1134752

Kwak: A Structural Equation Model of Factors Influencing Posttraumatic Growth of Earthquake Victims

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to construct and test a structural equation model of posttraumatic growth (PTG) of earthquake victims based on Tedeschi and Calhoun's model (2004).

Methods

Data were collected from 195 earthquake victims living in K. City. The exogenous variables include distress perception, resilience, and social support, and the endogenous variables include intrusive rumination, deliberate rumination, and posttraumatic growth. For data analysis, descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and structural equation modeling were performed.

Results

The modified model showed a good fitness to the data. Moreover, 6 of the 9 paths of the final model were statistically significant, which include PTG affected by deliberate rumination (β=.58, p<.001), resilience (γ=.18, p=.001), and distress perception (γ=.20, p=.002). These predictors explain 51.8% of variance in posttraumatic growth.

Conclusion

Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to develop and disseminate preventive intervention programs to increase the resilience of earthquake-prone communities. In addition, after exposure to a community-scale traumatic event such as earthquake, we should provide social supports to alleviate distress perception and transition from intrusive rumination to deliberate rumination so that we can seek new meaning from the earthquake and facilitate posttraumatic growth.

Figures and Tables

Figure 1

Conceptual framework.

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Figure 2

Path diagram for the modified model.

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Table 1

Demographic and Trauma-related Characteristics of the Participants (N=195)

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Table 2

Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Descriptive Statistics of the Measured Variables (N=195)

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CR=critical ratio; SE=standardized estimates.

Table 3

Standardized Direct, Indirect, and Total Effects for the Modified Model (N=195)

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Notes

This article is a revision of the first author's doctoral dissertation from Inje University.

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ORCID iDs

Minyeong Kwak
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8800-0886

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