Estrés postraumático en adolescentes expuestos a un mega incendio: Asociaciones con factores cognitivos y emocionales

Abstract

This study evaluated the relationship between the exposure to a mega fire, some cognitive and emotional factors, and symptoms of PTSD. We interviewed 249 Chilean adolescents exposed to a mega fire (83.9% female; M= 15.18 years, SD= 1.04 years), they responded to scales assessing fear during the fire, the perception of the effectiveness of the social environment to face the fire, the self-efficacy beliefs and posttraumatic stress. The symptoms were associated with the degree of exposure to fire (β= .21; p<.01), with the effectiveness of the social environment to face with the fire (β= -.19, p<.01) and with self- efficacy (β= -.16, p<.01). In addition, the fear was a mediator in the relationship between the exposure (β indirect effect=.07, p<.05) and the effectiveness of the environment with the symptomatology (β=-.03 indirect effect, p<.05). The results give weight to the factors studied in the process of developing symptoms after a mega fire. For this reason, it seems advisable its consideration in PTSD prevention and treatment programs.