The Ripple Effect of Psychological Anxiety among Adolescents Exposed to An Earthquake from A Perspective of Health Geography

Shi Wei; Wang Jiayi; Gan Yiqun; Feng Jingyi; Jia Peng

doi:10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20250118

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Journal of Psychological Science ›› 2025, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (1) : 186-198. DOI: 10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20250118

Social，Personality & Organizational Psychology

The Ripple Effect of Psychological Anxiety among Adolescents Exposed to An Earthquake from A Perspective of Health Geography

Shi Wei¹, Wang Jiayi¹, Gan Yiqun², Feng Jingyi³, Jia Peng^3,4,5,6

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Abstract

Exposure to a disaster such as an earthquake is closely linked with mental disorders. Anxiety is one of the most common psychological problems among adolescents exposed to serious earthquakes. Adolescence is a vulnerable and critical period of physical and mental development. If mental health problems, such as depressive disorders, are not treated in time after a disaster, adolescents may suffer a lifelong psychological crisis. Based on the spatial perspective, prior studies have explored the psychological outcome caused by disaster events and have indicated some controversial results such as the “Psychological Typhoon Eye Effect” and “Ripple Effect”. However, limited studies have used the geographical method to evidence spatial distribution characteristics of mental health symptoms and their correlates. Furthermore, prior studies mainly focused on the spatial distribution of mental health issues among adult populations after hurricanes or floods. Few studies have investigated the geospatial distribution of mental disorders among Chinese adolescents after an earthquake, although it is one of the most frequent disasters in the world. Further research is urgently needed to identify and understand the spatial distribution of anxiety symptoms and relevant influencing factors, which benefit filling research gaps. This study aimed to explore the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors (e.g., distance to the epicenter, rate of depressive symptoms, sibling rate, mental health course attendance rate, and distance to the medical center) for anxiety symptoms among Chinese adolescents after the earthquake.
There were two datasets from geographic data (such as government databases, Amap and Baidu Map) and a self-report questionnaire. One month after the earthquake, a total of 1761 questionnaires were sent out to five schools in Luxian, and 1425 valid questionnaires were received (response rate = 80.92%). Participants reported demographic information, including age, sex, siblings, mental health course attendance, and residence information. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) were used to screen the depression and anxiety, respectively. Based on the computer software of SPSS20.0, Arcgis10.2, and MGWR2.2, spatial autocorrelation, ordinary least squares regression, geographically weighted regression, and multi-scale geographically weighted regression were used to study spatial distribution characteristics, influencing factors, and spatial variability of anxiety symptoms.
Based on a sample of 1425 Chinese adolescents (Mage=15.32 years old; SD=1.18 years old; 44.21% are female), the prevalence of anxiety symptoms was 21.75%. The results showed that the spatial distribution of anxiety incidence rates among adolescents showed a decreasing trend from the center of the disaster to the peripheral areas of the earthquake. The spatial distribution of anxiety incidence rates among adolescents showed a psychological ripple effect. Furthermore, a cluster of high anxiety was observed at the border of intensity areas eight and seven, whereas a cluster of low anxiety was observed at the edge of intensity area six. Moreover, the results of the ordinary least squares regression model indicated that the depression rate positively influenced the anxiety rate and was the most influential factor, followed by distance to medical care, one-child rate, and the rate of having attended a mental health course, all of which were positively associated with the anxiety rate. Distance from the disaster center, the second most influential factor, was negatively associated with anxiety rates. Additionally, the results of spatial variability displayed that regression coefficients of depression rates were highest in the western and northern parts of Luxian. The anxiety rate in villages or communities close to the Second People’s Hospital of Luxian was more likely to be influenced by the distance to medical care.
Based on the spatial differences of anxiety-influencing factors, more medical and psychological resources should be allocated to the center of the disaster but they should also be extended to the areas on the periphery of the earthquake’s impact. The study benefits the efficient allocation of first-aid psychological support and the development of related mental health interventions after a disaster.

Key words

earthquake / anxiety symptoms / adolescents / geospatial distribution / psychological ripple effect

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Shi Wei, Wang Jiayi, Gan Yiqun, Feng Jingyi, Jia Peng. The Ripple Effect of Psychological Anxiety among Adolescents Exposed to An Earthquake from A Perspective of Health Geography[J]. Journal of Psychological Science. 2025, 48(1): 186-198 https://doi.org/10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20250118

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