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Burrows K, Fong KC, Lowe SR, Fussell E, Bell ML. The impact of residential greenness on psychological distress among Hurricane Katrina survivors. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285510. [PMID: 37167267 PMCID: PMC10174552 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Residential greenness may support mental health among disaster-affected populations; however, changes in residential greenness may disrupt survivors' sense of place. We obtained one pre- and three post-disaster psychological distress scores (Kessler [K]-6) from a cohort (n = 229) of low-income mothers who survived Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Greenness was assessed using average growing season Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) in the 300 m around participants' homes at each time point. We used multivariable logistic regressions to evaluate two hypotheses: 1) that cross-sectional greenness (above vs. below median) was associated with reduced psychological distress (K6≥5); and 2) that changes in residential greenness were associated with adverse mental health. When using EVI, we found that a change in level of greenness (i.e., from high to low [high-low], or from low to high [low-high] greenness, comparing pre- and post-Katrina neighborhoods) was associated with increased odds of distress at the first post-storm survey, compared to moving between or staying within low greenness neighborhoods (low-high odds ratio [OR] = 3.48; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.40, 8.62 and high-low OR = 2.60; 95% CI: 1.05, 6.42). Results for NDVI were not statistically significant. More research is needed to characterize how residential greenness may impact the health of disaster survivors, and how these associations may change over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Burrows
- Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States of America
| | - Kelvin C Fong
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Sarah R Lowe
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Fussell
- Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States of America
| | - Michelle L Bell
- School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
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Lieberman-Cribbin W, Gillezeau C, Schwartz RM, Taioli E. Unequal social vulnerability to Hurricane Sandy flood exposure. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2021; 31:804-809. [PMID: 32398778 PMCID: PMC9039878 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-020-0230-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Disparities exist in post-disaster flooding exposure and vulnerable populations bear a disproportionate impact of this exposure. We describe the unequal burden of flooding in a cohort of New York residents following Hurricane Sandy and assess whether the likelihood of flooding was distributed equally according to socioeconomic demographics, and whether this likelihood differed when analyzing self-reported or FEMA flood exposure measures. Residents of New York City and Long Island completed a self-administered survey 1.5-4.0 years after the storm. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to determine the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and flood exposure. Participants (n = 1231) residing in areas of the lowest two quartiles of median household income experienced flooding the most often (FEMA/self-reported: <$40,298: 65.3%/42.0%, $40,298-$67,188: 43.3%/32.1%), and these areas contained the highest proportions of non-White participants (<$40,298: 39.1%, $40,298-$67,188: 36.6%) and those with ≤high school education (<$40,298: 35.5%, $40,298-$67,188: 33.6%). Both self-report (p < 0.05) and FEMA (p < 0.05) flood measures indicated that older participants were more likely to live in a household exposed to flooding, while those living in higher-income areas had decreased likelihood of flooding (p < 0.0001). Socioeconomic and age disparities were present in exposure to flooding during Hurricane Sandy. Future disaster preparedness responses must understand flooding from an environmental justice perspective to create effective strategies that minimize disproportionate exposure and its adverse outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wil Lieberman-Cribbin
- Institute for Translational Epidemiology and Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Joint Center for Disaster Health, Trauma and Resilience, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Christina Gillezeau
- Institute for Translational Epidemiology and Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Joint Center for Disaster Health, Trauma and Resilience, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Rebecca M Schwartz
- Institute for Translational Epidemiology and Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Joint Center for Disaster Health, Trauma and Resilience, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra-Northwell, Great Neck, NY, 11021, USA
| | - Emanuela Taioli
- Institute for Translational Epidemiology and Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Joint Center for Disaster Health, Trauma and Resilience, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA.
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Lieberman-Cribbin W, Liu B, Sheffield P, Schwartz R, Taioli E. Socioeconomic disparities in incidents at toxic sites during Hurricane Harvey. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2021; 31:454-460. [PMID: 33875771 PMCID: PMC8992005 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-021-00324-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hurricane Harvey facilitated exposure to various toxic substances and floodwater throughout the greater Houston metropolitan area. Although disparities exist in this exposure and vulnerable populations can bear a disproportionate impact, no research has integrated disparities in exposure to toxic incidents following Hurricane Harvey. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between flooding, socioeconomic status (SES), and toxic site incidents. METHODS Data on toxic site locations, reported releases, and flood water depths during Hurricane Harvey in the greater Houston area were compiled from multiple sources. A multivariable logistic regression was performed to predict the odds of a toxic site release by flooding at the site, SES and racial composition of the census tract. RESULTS 83 out of 1403 toxic sites (5.9%) had reported releases during Hurricane Harvey. The proportion of toxic sites with reported incidents across increasing SES index quintiles were 8.35, 7.67, 5.14, 4.55, and 0.51, respectively. The odds of an incident were lower in the highest SES quintile areas (ORadj = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01-0.42) compared to the lowest SES quintile. Flooding was similar at toxic sites with and without incidents, and was distributed similarly and highest at toxic sites located in lower SES quintiles. SIGNIFICANCE Despite similar flooding across toxic sites during Hurricane Harvey, areas with lower SES were more likely to have a toxic release during the storm, after accounting for number of toxic sites. Improving quality of maintenance, safety protocols, number of storm-resilient facilities may minimize this disproportionate exposure and its subsequent adverse outcomes among socioeconomically vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wil Lieberman-Cribbin
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Joint Center for Disaster Health, Trauma and Resilience, Great Neck, NY, USA
| | - Bian Liu
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Joint Center for Disaster Health, Trauma and Resilience, Great Neck, NY, USA
| | - Perry Sheffield
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca Schwartz
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Joint Center for Disaster Health, Trauma and Resilience, Great Neck, NY, USA
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra-Northwell, Great Neck, NY, USA
| | - Emanuela Taioli
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Joint Center for Disaster Health, Trauma and Resilience, Great Neck, NY, USA.
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Raker EJ, Arcaya MC, Lowe SR, Zacher M, Rhodes J, Waters MC. Mitigating Health Disparities After Natural Disasters: Lessons From The RISK Project. Health Aff (Millwood) 2020; 39:2128-2135. [PMID: 33284697 PMCID: PMC8533028 DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Climate change exacerbates the severity of natural disasters, which disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Mitigating disasters' health consequences is critical to promoting health equity, but few studies have isolated the short- and long-term effects of disasters on vulnerable groups. We filled this gap by conducting a fifteen-year (2003-2018) prospective study of low-income, predominantly Black parents who experienced Hurricane Katrina: the Resilience in Survivors of Katrina (RISK) Project. Here we describe this project and synthesize lessons from work that has resulted from it. Our findings can guide policy makers, service providers, and health officials in disaster planning and response. We synthesize them into an organizational schema of five priorities: Primary efforts should be aimed at preventing exposure to trauma through investments in climate resilience and by eliminating impediments to evacuation, health care policies should promote uninterrupted and expanded access to care, social services should integrate and strive to reduce the administrative burden on survivors, programs should aid survivors in forging or strengthening connections to their communities, and policy makers should fund targeted long-term services for highly affected survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan J Raker
- Ethan J. Raker is a PhD candidate in the Department of Sociology at Harvard University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Mariana C Arcaya
- Mariana C. Arcaya is an associate professor of urban planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Sarah R Lowe
- Sarah R. Lowe is an assistant professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Yale School of Public Health, in New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Meghan Zacher
- Meghan Zacher is a postdoctoral fellow in the Population Studies and Training Center at Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Jean Rhodes
- Jean Rhodes is the Frank L. Boyden Professor of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, in Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mary C Waters
- Mary C. Waters is the PVK Professor of Arts and Sciences and the John L. Loeb Professor of Sociology at Harvard University
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Zacher M, Raker EJ, Arcaya MC, Lowe SR, Rhodes J, Waters MC. Physical Health Symptoms and Hurricane Katrina: Individual Trajectories of Development and Recovery More Than a Decade After the Storm. Am J Public Health 2020; 111:127-135. [PMID: 33211584 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2020.305955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Objectives. To examine how physical health symptoms developed and resolved in response to Hurricane Katrina.Methods. We used data from a 2003 to 2018 study of young, low-income mothers who were living in New Orleans, Louisiana, when Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005 (n = 276). We fit logistic regressions to model the odds of first reporting or "developing" headaches or migraines, back problems, and digestive problems, and of experiencing remission or "recovery" from previously reported symptoms, across surveys.Results. The prevalence of each symptom increased after Hurricane Katrina, but the odds of developing symptoms shortly before versus after the storm were comparable. The number of traumatic experiences endured during Hurricane Katrina increased the odds of developing back and digestive problems just after the hurricane. Headaches or migraines and back problems that developed shortly after Hurricane Katrina were more likely to resolve than those that developed just before the storm.Conclusions. While traumatic experiences endured in disasters such as Hurricane Katrina appear to prompt the development of new physical symptoms, disaster-induced symptoms may be less likely to persist or become chronic than those emerging for other reasons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Zacher
- Meghan Zacher is with the Population Studies and Training Center and the Data Science Initiative, Brown University, Providence, RI. Ethan J. Raker and Mary C. Waters are with the Department of Sociology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. Mariana C. Arcaya is with the Department of Urban Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. Sarah R. Lowe is with the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT. Jean Rhodes is with the Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Boston
| | - Ethan J Raker
- Meghan Zacher is with the Population Studies and Training Center and the Data Science Initiative, Brown University, Providence, RI. Ethan J. Raker and Mary C. Waters are with the Department of Sociology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. Mariana C. Arcaya is with the Department of Urban Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. Sarah R. Lowe is with the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT. Jean Rhodes is with the Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Boston
| | - Mariana C Arcaya
- Meghan Zacher is with the Population Studies and Training Center and the Data Science Initiative, Brown University, Providence, RI. Ethan J. Raker and Mary C. Waters are with the Department of Sociology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. Mariana C. Arcaya is with the Department of Urban Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. Sarah R. Lowe is with the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT. Jean Rhodes is with the Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Boston
| | - Sarah R Lowe
- Meghan Zacher is with the Population Studies and Training Center and the Data Science Initiative, Brown University, Providence, RI. Ethan J. Raker and Mary C. Waters are with the Department of Sociology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. Mariana C. Arcaya is with the Department of Urban Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. Sarah R. Lowe is with the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT. Jean Rhodes is with the Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Boston
| | - Jean Rhodes
- Meghan Zacher is with the Population Studies and Training Center and the Data Science Initiative, Brown University, Providence, RI. Ethan J. Raker and Mary C. Waters are with the Department of Sociology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. Mariana C. Arcaya is with the Department of Urban Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. Sarah R. Lowe is with the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT. Jean Rhodes is with the Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Boston
| | - Mary C Waters
- Meghan Zacher is with the Population Studies and Training Center and the Data Science Initiative, Brown University, Providence, RI. Ethan J. Raker and Mary C. Waters are with the Department of Sociology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. Mariana C. Arcaya is with the Department of Urban Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. Sarah R. Lowe is with the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT. Jean Rhodes is with the Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Boston
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Impact of a natural disaster on access to care and biopsychosocial outcomes among Hispanic/Latino cancer survivors. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10376. [PMID: 32587352 PMCID: PMC7316979 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66628-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the leading cause of death in Puerto Rico (PR). Hurricane Maria (HM) and its aftermath lead to widespread devastation on the island, including the collapse of the healthcare system. Medically fragile populations, such as cancer survivors, were significantly affected. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of HM on barriers to care, emotional distress, and inflammatory biomarkers among cancer survivors in PR. This exploratory longitudinal study was conducted in health care facilities and community support groups from PR. Cancer survivors (n = 50) and non-cancer participants (n = 50) completed psychosocial questionnaires and provided blood samples that were used to assess inflammatory cytokines levels. Among this cohort, we identified 41 matched cancer survivors/non-cancer participants pairs. Data were analyzed through descriptive, frequencies, correlational, and regression analyses. Cancer survivors that were affected by HM reported increased barriers in accessing medical care, which were directly associated with anxiety, perceived stress, and post-traumatic symptomatology. Moreover, being a cancer survivor, predicted more barriers to receiving health care, especially in the first six weeks after the event, after which the effect was attenuated. Several inflammatory cytokines, such as CD31, BDNF, TFF3, Serpin E-1, VCAM-1, Vitamin D BP, and PDGF-AA, were significantly upregulated in cancer survivors while MMP9 and Osteopontin both had significant positive correlations with barriers to care. HM significantly impacted Puerto Ricans psychosocial well-being. Cancer survivors had significant barriers to care and showed increased serum inflammatory cytokines but did not show differences in anxiety, stress, and post-traumatic symptoms compared to non-cancer participants.
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Zhang W, Kinney PL, Rich DQ, Sheridan SC, Romeiko XX, Dong G, Stern EK, Du Z, Xiao J, Lawrence WR, Lin Z, Hao Y, Lin S. How community vulnerability factors jointly affect multiple health outcomes after catastrophic storms. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 134:105285. [PMID: 31726368 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While previous studies uncovered individual vulnerabilities to health risks during catastrophic storms, few evaluated the population vulnerability which is more important for identifying areas in greatest need of intervention. OBJECTIVES We assessed the association between community factors and multiple health outcomes, and developed a community vulnerability index. METHODS We retained emergency department visits for several health conditions from the 2005-2014 New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System. We developed distributed lag nonlinear models at each spatial cluster across eight counties in downstate New York to evaluate the health risk associated with Superstorm Sandy (10/28/2012-11/9/2012) compared to the same period in other years, then defined census tracts in clusters with an elevated risk as "risk-elevated communities", and all others as "unelevated". We used machine-learning techniques to regress the risk elevation status against community factors to determine the contribution of each factor on population vulnerability, and developed a community vulnerability index (CVI). RESULTS Overall, community factors had positive contributions to increased community vulnerabilities to Sandy-related substance abuse (91.35%), injuries (70.51%), cardiovascular diseases (8.01%), and mental disorders (2.71%) but reversely contributed to respiratory diseases (-34.73%). The contribution of low per capita income (max: 22.08%), the percentage of residents living in group quarters (max: 31.39%), the percentage of areas prone to flooding (max: 38.45%), and the percentage of green coverage (max: 29.73%) tended to be larger than other factors. The CVI based on these factors achieved an accuracy of 0.73-0.90 across outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggested that substance abuse was the most sensitive disease susceptible to less optimal community indicators, whereas respiratory diseases were higher in communities with better social environment. The percentage of residents in group quarters and areas prone to flooding were among dominant predictors for community vulnerabilities. The CVI based on these factors has an appropriate predictive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wangjian Zhang
- Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Patrick L Kinney
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, MA, USA
| | - David Q Rich
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | | | - Xiaobo Xue Romeiko
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Guanghui Dong
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Eric K Stern
- College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cyber-Security, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Zhicheng Du
- Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianpeng Xiao
- Department of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wayne R Lawrence
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Ziqiang Lin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA; Department of Mathematics, University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Yuantao Hao
- Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Shao Lin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA.
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Marceron JE, Rohrbeck CA. Disability and disasters: the role of self-efficacy in emergency preparedness. PSYCHOL HEALTH MED 2018; 24:83-93. [DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2018.1492730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Cynthia A. Rohrbeck
- Department of Psychology, The George Washington University, DC, Washington, USA
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Wirtz PW, Rohrbeck CA, Burns KM. Anxiety effects on disaster precautionary behaviors: A multi-path cognitive model. J Health Psychol 2017; 24:1401-1411. [PMID: 28810500 DOI: 10.1177/1359105317720277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have revealed a negative relationship between anxiety and health-promoting behavior. This study identified three cognitive pathways through which anxiety operates on preparedness behaviors for terrorist attacks. Preparedness was regressed on trait anxiety, perceived threat, and self-efficacy based on data from 306 adults. Mediating paths through perceived threat (positive) and self-efficacy (negative) and an independent negative path were identified. Results suggest that the anxiety/precautionary behavior relationship is more complex than previously thought, involving multiple pathways of competing directionality. Interventions to improve disaster preparedness and thus reduce disaster-related morbidity/mortality would benefit by capitalizing on this multidimensionality.
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Morris KA, Deterding NM. The emotional cost of distance: Geographic social network dispersion and post-traumatic stress among survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Soc Sci Med 2016; 165:56-65. [PMID: 27494240 PMCID: PMC5003656 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Revised: 07/16/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Social networks offer important emotional and instrumental support following natural disasters. However, displacement may geographically disperse network members, making it difficult to provide and receive support necessary for psychological recovery after trauma. OBJECTIVES We examine the association between distance to network members and post-traumatic stress using survey data, and identify potential mechanisms underlying this association using in-depth qualitative interviews. METHODS We use longitudinal, mixed-methods data from the Resilience in Survivors of Katrina (RISK) Project to capture the long-term effects of Hurricane Katrina on low-income mothers from New Orleans. Baseline surveys occurred approximately one year before the storm and follow-up surveys and in-depth interviews were conducted five years later. We use a sequential explanatory analytic design. With logistic regression, we estimate the association of geographic network dispersion with the likelihood of post-traumatic stress. With linear regressions, we estimate the association of network dispersion with the three post-traumatic stress sub-scales. Using maximal variation sampling, we use qualitative interview data to elaborate identified statistical associations. RESULTS We find network dispersion is positively associated with the likelihood of post-traumatic stress, controlling for individual-level socio-demographic characteristics, exposure to hurricane-related trauma, perceived social support, and New Orleans residency. We identify two social-psychological mechanisms present in qualitative data: respondents with distant network members report a lack of deep belonging and a lack of mattering as they are unable to fulfill obligations to important distant ties. CONCLUSION Results indicate the importance of physical proximity to emotionally-intimate network ties for long-term psychological recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Ann Morris
- Harvard University, Department of Sociology, William James Hall, 33 Kirkland Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States.
| | - Nicole M Deterding
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Institute for Research on Poverty, United States
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The authors examined depression trajectories over two years among mothers exposed to Hurricane Katrina. Risk and protective factors for depression trajectories, as well as associations with child outcomes were analyzed. METHOD This study included 283 mothers (age at time 1, M = 39.20 years, SD = 7.21; 62% African American). Mothers were assessed at four time points over two years following Hurricane Katrina. Mothers reported posttraumatic stress symptoms, hurricane exposure, traumatic life events, and social support at time 1. Depressive symptoms were modeled at times 2, 3, and 4. Youth reported their distress symptoms (posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety) at time 4. RESULTS Latent class growth analyses identified three maternal depression trajectories among mothers exposed to Hurricane Katrina: low (61%), resilient (29%), and chronic (10%). Social support was identified as a protective factor among mothers. CONCLUSIONS Three main trajectories of maternal depression following Hurricane Katrina were identified. Social support was protective for mothers. Identified trajectories were not associated with children's distress outcomes. These results have implications for disaster responses, screening efforts, and interventions targeted towards families. Future studies warrant the investigation of additional risk and protective factors that can affect maternal and child outcomes.
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Lowe SR, Joshi S, Pietrzak RH, Galea S, Cerdá M. Mental health and general wellness in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Soc Sci Med 2014; 124:162-70. [PMID: 25461873 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.11.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to natural disasters has been linked to a range of adverse outcomes, including mental health problems (e.g., posttraumatic stress symptoms [PTSS], depression), declines in role functioning (e.g., occupational difficulties), and physical health problems (e.g., somatic complaints). However, prior research and theory suggest that the modal postdisaster response in each of these domains is resilience, defined as low levels of symptoms or problems in a given outcome over time, with minimal elevations that are limited to the time period during the disaster and its immediate aftermath. However, the extent to which disaster survivors exhibit mental health wellness (resilience across multiple mental health conditions) or general wellness (resilience across mental health, physical health, and role functioning domains) remains unexplored. The purpose of this study was to quantify mental health and general wellness, and to examine predictors of each form of wellness, in a three-wave population-based study of Hurricane Ike survivors (N = 658). Latent class growth analysis was used to determine the frequency of resilience on four outcomes (PTSS: 74.9%; depression: 57.9%; functional impairment: 45.1%; days of poor health: 52.6%), and cross-tabulations were used to determine the frequency of mental health wellness (51.2%) and general wellness (26.1%). Significant predictors of both mental health and general wellness included lower peri-event emotional reactions and higher community-level collective efficacy; loss of sentimental possessions or pets and disaster-related financial loss were negative predictors of mental health wellness, and loss of personal property was a negative predictor of general wellness. The results suggest that studies focusing on a single postdisaster outcome may have overestimated the prevalence of mental health and general wellness, and that peri-event responses, personal property loss and collective efficacy have a cross-cutting influence across multiple domains of postdisaster functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R Lowe
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, USA.
| | - Spruha Joshi
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, USA
| | - Robert H Pietrzak
- United States Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Sandro Galea
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, USA
| | - Magdalena Cerdá
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, USA
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