Posttraumatic growth in schoolchildren after a natural disaster in Chile

Introduction: this study evaluated Posttraumatic Growth in schoolchildren affected by an earthquake and tsunami in Chile. Method: a total of 325 schoolchildren aged 10 to 15 years (52,6 % female and 47,4 % male) participated 12 months after the natural disaster. Of this population, 167 schoolchildren were exposed to the earthquake/ tsunami, and 158 children served as a comparison group, as they lived more than 360 km from the epicenter. Results: the group exposed to the earthquake/tsunami had higher Posttraumatic Growth scores than the unexposed group. The sex-by-group interaction effect was statistically significant. Regarding rumination, higher rumination scores were found in the group of participants exposed to the earthquake/tsunami compared to the unexposed group. Deliberate rumination was higher in the group affected by the natural disaster. Conclusions: shoolchildren exposed to the earthquake/tsunami showed greater Posttraumatic Growth than the comparison group. The study’s findings offer insight into the processes that contribute to addressing mental health in school education affected by a natural disaster in Chile.