Risk and protective factors in the development of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among a cohort of students in two tertiary institutions post Hurricane Ivan.

OBJECTIVE This study seeks to identify factors associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following Hurricane Ivan among a cohort of tertiary-level students in Jamaica. METHODS A 22-item, self-administered questionnaire was administered to a non-random sample. Using parametric and non-parametric analyses, the relationship between PTSD symptoms and several variables was examined. RESULTS Feeling anxious, worried or fearful and/or experiencing loss and injury during the hurricane were significant (p < 0.01) predictors for PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Factors predicting the development of PTSD symptoms were feeling anxious, worried or fearful during the hurricane and experiencing loss of property and/or death or injury of a family member during the hurricane.