A Cross-Cultural Study of Depression in the Aftermath of a Natural Disaster |
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| Authors: | Shaké G. Toukmanian Darryle Jadaa Diane Lawless |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Psychology, The City College , City University of New York, North Academic Center , Room, 7/120, Convent Avenue at 138th street, New York, NY, 10031, USA;2. Department of Psychology , State University of New York , Stony Brook, Stony Book, NY, 11794-2500, USA |
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| Abstract: | This study evaluated the extent and severity of depressive symptoms among adults (n=1015) in Armenia one year after the 1988 earthquake, using an Armenian translation of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-Arm). Earthquake surivivors had higher levels of depression than did their non-earthquake counterparts. For both the quake and non-quake regions, women were found to have higher scores on the BDI-Arm than men, and persons between the ages of 31–55 reported significantly higher depressive ratings than individuals who were 17–30. Interactions between the quake and non-quake areas and gender indicated that women in both areas reported significantly more depressive symptoms than men. The psychometric properties of the BDI-Arm compared favorably to those defined by North American studies. |
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| Keywords: | Depression Culture Natural disaster Earthquake |
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