College of Nursing, Research Institute of Nursing Science, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea.
Mo-Im Kim Nursing Research Institute, College of Nursing, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2022 Mar 4;20(1):37. doi: 10.1186/s12955-022-01944-8.
Earthquakes are global natural disasters and can cause loss of property, livelihood and affect human health. A 5.4 magnitude earthquake, the Pohang earthquake, occurred in South Korea in 2017. In this study, based on a health-related quality of life (HRQOL) conceptual model, we examined the HRQOL and its associated factors among older adults who had experienced the earthquake.
A cross-sectional study was conducted with a quota sample of 312 older adults living in eight villages of a district that was the most damaged area during the Pohang earthquake. Data were collected from January 15-March 19, 2019, via face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires. Structural equation modeling was performed to explore the associations among depression, posttraumatic stress symptoms, community resilience, social support, disaster preparedness, and HRQOL.
The mean age of the participants was 77.93 ± 6.11 years. HRQOL scores were 49.85 ± 18.07 (physical health), 50.16 ± 18.75 (psychological health), 61.93 ± 19.20 (social relations), and 49.53 ± 16.37 (environment). The structural equation modeling analysis showed a good fit. Depression had direct (β = - 2.21; p < 0.001), indirect (β =- 0.23; p < 0.001), and total effects on HRQOL (β = - 2.44; p < 0.001). Community resilience (β = 6.05; p = 0.001) and social support (β = 0.12, p = 0.001) had direct and total effects on HRQOL. Disaster preparedness had indirect (β = 0.40; p = 0.001) and total (β = 0.69, p = 0.031) effects on HRQOL. In contrast, posttraumatic stress symptoms did not have significant effects on HRQOL.
Our findings indicated that lower depression, higher community resilience, social support, and disaster preparedness were associated with increased HRQOL. Thus, it is helpful to decrease depression and strengthen community resilience, social support, and disaster preparedness to promote HRQOL among older adults who have experienced earthquakes. These results can inform the development of HRQOL in socio-psychological improvement programs for older adults in community health centers and disaster-relief psychological support centers.
地震是全球性的自然灾害，会造成财产损失、生计问题，并影响人类健康。2017 年，韩国发生了一次里氏 5.4 级地震，即浦项地震。在本研究中，我们基于与健康相关的生活质量（HRQOL）概念模型，调查了经历过此次地震的老年人的 HRQOL 及其相关因素。
采用配额抽样方法，选取浦项地震受灾最严重地区的 8 个村庄中的 312 名老年人进行横断面研究。数据于 2019 年 1 月 15 日至 3 月 19 日通过面对面访谈使用结构化问卷收集。采用结构方程模型探讨抑郁、创伤后应激症状、社区韧性、社会支持、灾害准备与 HRQOL 之间的关系。
参与者的平均年龄为 77.93±6.11 岁。HRQOL 评分为 49.85±18.07（生理健康）、50.16±18.75（心理健康）、61.93±19.20（社会关系）和 49.53±16.37（环境）。结构方程模型分析显示拟合度良好。抑郁对 HRQOL 具有直接（β=−2.21;p<0.001）、间接（β=−0.23;p<0.001）和总效应（β=−2.44;p<0.001）。社区韧性（β=6.05;p=0.001）和社会支持（β=0.12;p=0.001）对 HRQOL 具有直接和总效应。灾害准备对 HRQOL 具有间接（β=0.40;p=0.001）和总效应（β=0.69;p=0.031）。相比之下，创伤后应激症状对 HRQOL 没有显著影响。
我们的研究结果表明，较低的抑郁程度、较高的社区韧性、社会支持和灾害准备与更高的 HRQOL 相关。因此，降低抑郁程度，增强社区韧性、社会支持和灾害准备有助于提高经历过地震的老年人的 HRQOL。这些结果可以为社区卫生中心和灾害救援心理支持中心的老年人社会心理改善计划和 HRQOL 发展提供信息。
