Mental Condition of Youth Flood Victims in Southern Thailand

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the mental condition of youth flood victims in southern Thailand.  The subjects included 500 youths purposively selected from those who had suffered flood disaster in southern Thailand in 2011. The instruments used in the study consisted of a researcher-created four-point rating-scale questionnaire on mental condition of youth flood victims in southern Thailand. The data were analyzed using such statistics as percentage, arithmetic mean, and standard deviation.  The study revealed that, as a whole, the youth flood victims in southern Thailand had experienced stress, anxiety, and fear. They were easily frightened and not brave enough to face even with a minor stimulant.  They showed symptom, but their daily life was not affected.  When each of the four aspects was examined, it was found that the physical effect was at a normal level, and the self-conception showed symptom, but their daily life was not affected.  Role and mission was at a normal level whereas sense of reliance was affected at a slightly high level while their daily life was slightly affected.