Community mental health journalMay 19, 2019

Link Between Earthquake Experiences and Mental Health in Phulpingdanda Village After the 2015 Nepal Earthquakes

Longevity & Aging Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Apr 2, 2026

Abstract

In a survey conducted one year after the 2015 earthquakes in Nepal, 33% of residents screened positive for depression.

9% of surveyed residents indicated severe symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
All participants reported experiencing resource loss, while 99% reported damage to homes and possessions.
Exposure to traumatic experiences related to personal harm was linked to symptoms of depression and PTSD.
Resource loss was correlated with depressive symptoms.
Experiences involving less damage to property but greater exposure to distressing events were associated with higher resilience.

Simplified

In 2015, two strong earthquakes, as well as continuous, high magnitude aftershocks, struck Nepal. Phulpingdanda village was greatly impacted due to its lack of infrastructure and environmental remoteness. Adults from sampled households were surveyed 1-year later to examine the association between earthquake exposures and indicators of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and resilience. Results showed 33% of surveyed residents screened positive for depression, 9% screened positive for severe PTSD, and 46% displayed moderate to high resilience. Additionally, participants experienced resource loss (100%), damaged home and goods (99%), and exposure to the grotesque (82%). Traumatic earthquake experiences related to personal harm were associated with symptoms of depression and PTSD and resource loss was associated with depressive symptoms. Earthquake experiences associated with less damage to home and goods, but greater exposure to the grotesque were associated with increased resilience. This research adds to our knowledge of the relationship between traumatic exposures and indicators of psychological distress and resilience following a disaster.

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Link Between Earthquake Experiences and Mental Health in Phulpingdanda Village After the 2015 Nepal Earthquakes

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