This study examines variables associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTS) and posttraumatic growth among 2 independent samples of survivors following the Indian Ocean tsunami in Khao Lak, Thailand. Participants were exposed to unprecedented horror and loss of life and property. At 3 months participants (N = 248) were living in temporary shelters, and at 15 months a second sample (N = 255) was living in homes built after the tsunami. Prior traumatic experiences, life threat, loss of personal characteristic resources and condition resources, somatic problems, and social support accounted for close to half of the variance in PTS in each sample. At 3 months, emotion-focused coping and concerns about government favoritism also contributed to PTS. At 15 months, lack of prior disaster experience and loss of energy resources also contributed to PTS. Distress was higher among participants surveyed at 3 months than among those surveyed at 15 months. Posttraumatic growth was positively associated with social support and problem-focused coping in both samples. The findings support conservation of resources stress theory ( Hobfoll, 2012 ) and underscore how systemic issues affect mental health. The implications of the findings are discussed, as is the educational International Tsunami Museum designed by the first author to address systemic stressors.

This study explored the differences in loneliness and social inhibition between parentally bereaved and non-bereaved college students. Participants from West Virginia and Montana State universities were recruited through flyers, newspaper advertisements, and Craigslist.com. Those who volunteered were directed to a website to complete an online survey that included basic demographic information, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Socially Inhibited subscale of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-64. Bereavement status (bereaved vs. non-bereaved) and gender of participant (male vs. female) were the independent variables in the study. Loneliness and social inhibition were the dependent variables. A MANOVA was conducted to explore the differences in loneliness and social inhibition among the independent variables. Based on this analysis, no significant differences were found between bereaved and non-bereaved young adults, nor where there gender differences among the bereaved sample. Several supplemental analyses were conducted, including a MANCOVA, bivariate correlations, secondary MANOVA, and a discriminant analysis. Results from the discriminant analysis revealed that the stage of adolescence young adults lost their parent should be given further theoretical, empirical, and clinical attention. dissertation. First, I would like to recognize my dissertation chair and training director, Dr. James Bartee for his endless support, compassion, and trust in me throughout the dissertation and doctoral process. I would also like to acknowledge my former supervisor and dissertation committee member Dr. Lisa Hamilton who taught me much about working with college students and also to trust myself as a therapist. Finally, I appreciate the time, input, and suggestions from my dissertation committee members, Drs.