Effect of relocation after a natural disaster in Armenia: 20-year follow-up

Abstract

Background: This study is a 20-year follow-up of individual's relocated from their home after the devastating earthquake in Armenia in 1988.

Methods: Ninety-seven subjects who were exposed to the earthquake and thirty-seven subjects who were not exposed to the earthquake were administered the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL 90) and the UCLA PTSD Reaction in 2008. The exposed subjects comprised three groups: subjects who stayed in the earthquake city; those who relocated and returned; and a group who left permanently but were visiting family at the time of the study.

Results: The Stayed group had significantly higher scores on the SCL-90-R when compared to the other three groups. The Stayed group and the Relocated group had significantly higher scores for partial and full PTSD than the Left group and the comparison group.

Conclusion: Permanent relocation to another country where one is able to start a new life in a safe environment provides the best adaptation for recovery when the destruction and delay in reconstruction lasted as long as it did in Armenia.

Keywords: Natural disaster; Relocation; Trauma.