Post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety following the jet set nightclub collapse: Evidence from a nationwide prospective study in the Dominican Republic.

This study examined the psychological impact of the Jet Set nightclub collapse in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on April 8, 2025. Through a comprehensive approach, the research aimed to assess emotional symptoms in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. A prospective cross-sectional design was applied with a purposive sample of 1,034 adults who completed an online survey between April 9 and 15. Standardized instruments were used to evaluate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, perceived social support and emotion regulation strategies. The study had three main objectives: (a) to estimate the prevalence of clinically significant emotional symptoms; (b) to analyze symptom variation according to trauma exposure level (direct, intermediate or vicarious); and (c) to explore sociodemographic and psychological predictors through multiple regression models. Results showed prevalence rates of 14.1% for PTSD, 27.9% for depression and 21.7% for anxiety. Higher symptom severity was observed among participants with direct exposure. Emotion suppression was consistently associated with greater psychological distress, while perceived social support was a protective factor against depression and anxiety. Female gender and younger age also emerged as significant predictors. These findings highlight the importance of considering both individual and contextual factors in post-disaster mental health responses and provide regionally relevant evidence to inform culturally sensitive interventions.