The impact of major earthquakes on the psychological functioning of medical students: a Christchurch, New Zealand study
Frances A Carter, Caroline J Bell, Anthony N Ali, Janice McKenzie, Timothy J Wilkinson
No previous studies have systematically assessed the psychological functioning of medical students following a major disaster. We aimed to describe the psychological functioning of medical students following the earthquakes in Canterbury, New Zealand, and identify predictors of adverse psychological functioning.7 months following the most severe earthquake, medical students completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS), the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale, the Work and Adjustment Scale, and Likert scales assessing psychological functioning at worst and currently. The results showed that around 10% of medical students experienced moderate-extreme psychological difficulties 7 months following the most severe earthquake on 22 February 2011.