Therapeutic Communication and PTSD Symptoms among Children Affected by Flood Disasters in Aceh Tamiang

Abstract

This study examined therapeutic communication and PTSD symptoms in children and adolescents affected by flooding in Aceh Tamiang. Flooding not only caused physical damage but also had a significant impact on children’s mental and emotional health, especially for those who had to live in emergency shelters. This study used a quantitative method with a cross-sectional survey framework. The study participants included children aged 6 to 18 years who had experienced flooding in Aceh Tamiang. Data were collected using a PTSD symptom questionnaire to assess PTSD symptoms in children and a therapeutic communication survey adapted from various stages of therapeutic relationships, including the pre-orientation, orientation, working phase, and termination. For data analysis, descriptive statistics were applied to describe the respondents, analyze therapeutic communication patterns, and analyze the distribution of PTSD symptoms in children. The findings showed that children exhibited varying levels of PTSD symptoms after the disaster, with intrusion experiences and avoidance being the most prominent aspects. Reports of therapeutic communication experiences varied in intensity across different stages of interaction. These results indicated that therapeutic communication played a crucial role in providing interpersonal support for children’s psychological experiences after a flood disaster.

Keywords : therapeutic communication; PTSD symptoms; disaster affected children; flood disaster; crisis communication;

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