Abstract: Based on social survey data after the earthquake on May 12th in China，this paper studies and analyzes the senior citizens′ social support network in Zang-Qiang ethnic regions in Sichuan Province, comparing the differences among the senior citizens′ social support networks of Han，Zang and Qiang nationalities from various aspects. It is discovered that under the influence of traditional culture and national psychology，the Zang-Qiang ethnic regions are mainly characterized by family support，small in size and close in relationship，but with existence of national differences. After the sudden occurrence of the disaster，the original senior citizens′ social support network has been destroyed seriously，and these people′s physical and mental health has also been influenced considerably. Thus，under the conditions of seriously-destroyed original social network and immature formal social support，a problem how to restore and rebuild senior citizens′ social support network in ethnic regions can not be
neglected when the post-earthquake reconstruction is under way.

Key words: sudden disaster, earthquake, ethnic regions, senior citizens, social support