Exploring the factors associated with indirect trauma caused by a human-made disaster on the general population: A community study five years after the Sewol ferry incident

Disasters lead to mental health problems such as depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors that affect the severity of indirect trauma based on the characteristics of human-made disasters. We also analyzed the degree of indirect trauma by region by comparing the disaster site and the control community. The severity of indirect trauma caused by the Sewol ferry incident, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms was assessed in the survey. Gender (female), the presence of children, and a high level of monthly income were assessed as risk factors for increasing the severity of indirect trauma. The severity of indirect trauma was higher in the control community that was not involved in the Sewol ferry accident. We confirmed that the risk factors and protection factors are determined by the characteristics of the disaster and the victim in the case of a human-made disaster. To overcome indirect trauma, it is also necessary to provide social support and information for mental health recovery to those who indirectly encounter the disaster. •The severity of indirect trauma caused by human-made disaster is affected by the characteristics of the victims.•Gender (female) and high level of monthly income are the risk factors that increased the severity of indirect trauma.•The severity of indirect trauma was higher in the population in areas not directly related to disasters.