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Community mental health status six months after the Sewol ferry disaster in Ansan, Korea
Hee Jung Yang, Hae Kwan Cheong, Bo Youl Choi, Min-Ho Shin, Hyeon Woo Yim, Dong-Hyun Kim, Gawon Kim, Soon Young Lee
Epidemiol Health. 2015;37:e2015046.   Published online October 23, 2015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2015046
  • 22,958 View
  • 252 Download
  • 21 Web of Science
  • 22 Crossref
AbstractAbstract AbstractSummary PDFSupplementary Material
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
The disaster of the Sewol ferry that sank at sea off Korea’s southern coast of the Yellow Sea on April 16, 2014 was a tragedy that brought grief and despair to the whole country. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mental health effects of this disaster on the community of Ansan, where most victims and survivors resided.
METHODS
The self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted 4 to 6 months after the accident using the Korean Community Health Survey system, an annual nationwide cross-sectional survey. Subjects were 7,076 adults (≥19 years) living in two victimized communities in Ansan, four control communities from Gyeonggi-do, Jindo and Haenam near the accident site. Depression, stress, somatic symptoms, anxiety, and suicidal ideation were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale, Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument, Patient Health Questionnaire-15, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale, respectively.
RESULTS
The depression rate among the respondents from Ansan was 11.8%, and 18.4% reported suicidal ideation. Prevalence of other psychiatric disturbances was also higher compared with the other areas. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed significantly higher odds ratios (ORs) in depression (1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36 to 2.04), stress (1.37; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.71), somatic symptoms (1.31; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.58), anxiety (1.82; 95% CI, 1.39 to 2.39), and suicidal ideation (1.33; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.56) compared with Gyeonggi-do. In contrast, the accident areas of Jindo and Haenam showed the lowest prevalence and ORs.
CONCLUSIONS
Residents in the victimized area of Ansan had a significantly higher prevalence of psychiatric disturbances than in the control communities.
Summary
Korean summary
본 연구는 2014년 4월 16일 발생한 세월호 침몰 사고가 지역사회의 정신건강 수준에 미친 영향을 평가하기 위해 실시하였다. 2014년 지역사회건강조사를 활용, 사고 후 6개월 시점에 조사를 시행하였다. 대부분의 희생자가 발생한 안산시 대상자의 11.8%가 우울군으로 분류되었으며, 18.4%가 자살생각을 호소하였고, 그 밖의 유병률도 대조 지역에 비해 높았다.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Do community-related traumatic events affect academic outcomes among adolescents? Quasi-experimental evidence from the Sewol disaster in South Korea
    Dirk Bethmann, Jae Il Cho
    Death Studies.2025; 49(2): 144.     CrossRef
  • A scoping review of health risks and outcomes from disasters in the Republic of Korea
    Dong Ha Kim, Dongjin Kim, Heewon Kang
    BMC Public Health.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Suicide Death Rate after Disasters: A Meta-Analysis Study
    Hamid Safarpour, Sanaz Sohrabizadeh, Leila Malekyan, Meysam Safi-Keykaleh, Davoud Pirani, Salman Daliri, Jafar Bazyar
    Archives of Suicide Research.2022; 26(1): 14.     CrossRef
  • Disaster Resilience Differs between Survivors and Victims’ Families: A Semantic Network Analysis
    Jae-Eun Lee, Seol-A Kwon, Eugene Song, Sang Il Ryu
    Social Sciences.2022; 11(3): 117.     CrossRef
  • Development of a Mental Health Application: A Formative Evaluation
    Moon-Heum Cho, Yunjeong Chang, Dong Hun Lee, Yejin Kim
    Sage Open.2022;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Changes in the Levels of Stress Perception, Experiencing Depressive Symptoms and Health-Related Quality of Life of Residents after the 2016 Gyeongju Earthquake
    Young Ran Han, Yeo Won Jeong, Sang Kyu Kim, Han Seok Jeong
    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2021; 18(2): 540.     CrossRef
  • Psychological outcomes for young adults after disastrous events: A mixed-methods scoping review
    Katelyn O'Donohue, Emily Berger, Louise McLean, Matthew Carroll
    Social Science & Medicine.2021; 276: 113851.     CrossRef
  • Exploring the factors associated with indirect trauma caused by a human-made disaster on the general population: A community study five years after the Sewol ferry incident
    Jongha Lee, Seung-Hoon Lee, Cheolmin Shin, Ho-Kyoung Yoon, Ha Eun Park, Eun Bee Cho, Hae Sun Jung, Young-Hoon Ko
    International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction.2021; 60: 102262.     CrossRef
  • Developing an Internet-Based Trauma Recovery Nursing Intervention Based on Swanson’s Theory of Caring for Trauma Recovery
    Sunah Kim, Go-Un Kim, Wongyeong Lee, Jinyoung Park
    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2021; 18(13): 6715.     CrossRef
  • Trends and Factors Associated with Oral Contraceptive Use among Korean Women
    Hyejin Park, Kisok Kim
    Healthcare.2021; 9(10): 1386.     CrossRef
  • Life Experience of Bereaved Parents After the 2014 Sewol Ferry Disaster in South Korea
    Dong Hun Lee, Minsoo Khang, Jiyoung Shin, Hwa Jung Lee, Jacqueline A. Brown
    OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying.2020; 80(4): 515.     CrossRef
  • The Impact of Community Disaster Trauma: A Focus on Emerging Research of PTSD and Other Mental Health Outcomes
    Ju-Yeon Lee, Sung-Wan Kim, Jae-Min Kim
    Chonnam Medical Journal.2020; 56(2): 99.     CrossRef
  • Machine Learning-Based Data Mining Method for Sentiment Analysis of the Sewol Ferry Disaster's Effect on Social Stress
    Min-Joon Lee, Tae-Ro Lee, Seo-Joon Lee, Jin-Soo Jang, Eung Ju Kim
    Frontiers in Psychiatry.2020;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Development of Korean Disaster Mental Health Support Guidelines: Results of a Scoping Review and a Delphi Survey
    Sang Min Lee, Hee Young Lee, Mi Kyung Lee, Sunju Kim, Sorae Lee, Hae-Woo Lee, Eun Jin Park, Minyoung Sim, Jong-Woo Paik
    Psychiatry Investigation.2019; 16(2): 130.     CrossRef
  • Seasonal changes in suicide in South Korea, 1991 to 2015
    Chi Ting Yang, Paul S. F. Yip, Eun Shil Cha, Yi Zhang, Ghobad Moradi
    PLOS ONE.2019; 14(6): e0219048.     CrossRef
  • A Retrospective and Prospective Follow-up Study of Psychological Distress in the Danwon High School Survivors of the Sewol Ferry Disaster
    Eun Ji Kim, Hee Sun Nam, Hak Beom Kim, Unsun Chung, So Hee Lee, Jeong-Ho Chae
    Psychiatry Investigation.2018; 15(3): 261.     CrossRef
  • Factors Associated with Complicated Grief in Students Who Survived the Sewol Ferry Disaster in South Korea
    So Hee Lee, Hee Sun Nam, Hak Beom Kim, Eun Ji Kim, Jin-Won Noh, Jeong-Ho Chae
    Psychiatry Investigation.2018; 15(3): 254.     CrossRef
  • Natural Course of Posttraumatic Symptoms in Late-Adolescent Maritime Disaster Survivors: Results of A 12-Month Follow-Up Study
    Sang Won Jeon, Ho-Kyoung Yoon, Yong-Ku Kim, Changsu Han, Young-Hoon Ko, Seo Young Yoon, Cheolmin Shin
    Psychiatry Investigation.2018; 15(6): 574.     CrossRef
  • Decision Making Regarding Key Elements of Korean Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Teams Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process
    Sun-Jin Jo, Kyoung-Sae Na, Joo Eon Park, Myung-Soo Lee
    Psychiatry Investigation.2018; 15(7): 663.     CrossRef
  • Changes in the levels of depressive symptoms and anxiety in Ansan city after the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster
    Hee Jung Yang, Gawon Kim, KangUk Lee, Jakyoung Lee, Hae Kwan Cheong, Bo Youl Choi, Soon Young Lee
    Journal of Affective Disorders.2018; 241: 110.     CrossRef
  • Increase in the prescription rate of antidepressants after the Sewol Ferry disaster in Ansan, South Korea
    Kyu-Man Han, Kyoung-Hoon Kim, Mikyung Lee, Sang-Min Lee, Young-Hoon Ko, Jong-Woo Paik
    Journal of Affective Disorders.2017; 219: 31.     CrossRef
  • Mental health status of people isolated due to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
    Hyunsuk Jeong, Hyeon Woo Yim, Yeong-Jun Song, Moran Ki, Jung-Ah Min, Juhee Cho, Jeong-Ho Chae
    Epidemiology and Health.2016; 38: e2016048.     CrossRef
Hebei Spirit oil spill exposure and acute neuropsychiatric effects on residents participating in clean-up work.
Jin Hee Eum, Hae Kwan Cheong, Mina Ha, Ho Jang Kwon, Eun Hee Ha, Yun Chul Hong, Ye Yong Choi, Woo Chul Jeong, Jong Il Hur, Seungmin Lee, Eun Jung Kim, Eun Hee Lee, So Young Lee Ahn, Jong Hun Kim
Korean J Epidemiol. 2008;30(2):239-251.   Published online December 31, 2008
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/kje.2008.30.2.239
  • 12,303 View
  • 21 Download
  • 5 Crossref
AbstractAbstract PDF
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Hebei Spirit oil spill accident has brought about the worst coastal oil contamination in Korean history. Following the accident, residents and volunteers, number exceeding a million from nationwide, were exposed to chemicals from the crude oil itself and dispersants, including volatility organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and heavy metals through the clean-up works over months. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of clean-up work on the peripheral nerve function and psychologic status of the residents after a prolonged exposure to clean-up work after the oil spill exposure.
METHODS
We performed a study on the residents of Jango-do Island, Chungnam, on 5 and 12 January 2008, six to eight weeks after the accident. A questionnaire on general characteristics, Korean Beck Depression Inventory (K-BDI), color vision test (Lanthony desaturated D-15 test), and vibration perception threshold test were done. Among 210 residents with 30 years or older, 63 (30%) finished questionnaires and completed at least one among K-BDI, color vision test, or vibration perception threshold test. Descriptive statistics was done on the residents.
RESULTS
The residents participated in clean-up work for average 20 days, max 30 days, during 6 weeks following the accident. Average work hours were 7.4 hours per day, max 10 hours. On K-BDI, 21 (33.3%) had a severe depressive state. Mean color confusion index was 1.29 in the right and 1.20 in the left. Mean vibration perception threshold was 3.69 VU (right) and 3.55 VU (left), respectively.
DISCUSSIONS
AND CONCLUSIONS: Compared to literature report, the residents had higher depression scale. Color vision threshold was not higher compared to general population near an industrial complex. Vibration perception threshold was significantly higher than the residents of similar age living near an abandoned mine in southern coastal area only in the age group of forties. These suggests there is some evidence of neuropsychiatric effect related to oil cleaning work and a mid- and long-term study of the oil exposure health effects with continuous monitoring should be done for the exposed residents in the affected area.
Summary

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Cancer Incidence Trend in the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill Area, from 1999 to 2014: An Ecological Study
    Kyung-Hwa Choi, Myung-Sook Park, Mina Ha, Jong-Il Hur, Hae-Kwan Cheong
    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2018; 15(5): 1006.     CrossRef
  • Inquiring into activist publics in chronic environmental issues: use of the mutual-gains approach for breaking a deadlock
    Soojin Kim, Jeong-Nam Kim, Laishan Tam, Gwang Tae Kim
    Journal of Public Affairs.2015; 15(4): 404.     CrossRef
  • Community mental health status six months after the Sewol ferry disaster in Ansan, Korea
    Hee Jung Yang, Hae Kwan Cheong, Bo Youl Choi, Min-Ho Shin, Hyeon Woo Yim, Dong-Hyun Kim, Gawon Kim, Soon Young Lee
    Epidemiology and Health.2015; 37: e2015046.     CrossRef
  • Disaster management from the perspective of governance: case study of the Hebei Spirit oil spill
    Joon‐Young Hur
    Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal.2012; 21(3): 288.     CrossRef
  • Psychological Health in Residents Participating in Clean-up Works of Hebei Spirit Oil Spill
    Minkyo Song, Yun-Chul Hong, Hae-Kwan Cheong, Mina Ha, Hojang Kwon, Eun-Hee Ha, Yeyong Choi, Woo-Chul Jeong, Jongil Hur, Seung-Min Lee, Eun-Jung Kim
    Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health.2009; 42(2): 82.     CrossRef
Review
Status on Occurrence and Preventive Measures of Disasters in Korea.
Hyun Sul Lim
Korean J Epidemiol. 2003;25(2):47-61.
  • 6,868 View
  • 14 Download
AbstractAbstract PDF
Abstract
Disasters are emergencies of a severity and magnitude resulting in deaths, injuries, illness and/or property damage that cannot be effectively managed by the application of routine procedures or resources. These events are caused by nature, the result of technological or manmade error. Natural disasters include typhoon, flood, heavy snowfall, drought, famine, and earthquake. Natural disasters are unpreventable and, for the most part, uncontrollable. Technological or manmade disasters include fire, nuclear accidents, bombings, and bioterrorism. The severity of damage caused by natural or technological disasters is affected by population density in disaster-prone areas, local building codes, community preparedness, and the use of public safety announcements and education on how to respond correctly at the first signs of danger. Recovery following a disaster varies according to the public's access to pertinent information, pre-existing conditions that increase or reduce vulnerability, prior experience with stressful situations, and availability of sufficient savings and insurance. Epidemiology can be used to investigate the public health and medical consequences of disasters. The aim of disaster epidemiology is to ascertain strategies for the prevention of both acute and chronic health events. Disaster epidemiology includes rapid needs assessment, disease control strategies, assessment of the availability and use of health services, surveillance systems for both descriptive and analytic investigations of disease and injury, and research on risk factors contributing to disease, injury, or death. With both disasters and the number of people affected by such events on the increase, the importance of disasters as a public health program is now widely recognized in Korea. The epidemiologists must do their best effort for prevention of disasters.
Summary
Epidemiol Health : Epidemiology and Health
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