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Chua KJ, Knorr DA, Jimenez J, Francia A, Rojas V, Garcia JI, Fox M. What Do Your Neighbors Think About You? How Perceived Neighbor Attitudes Toward Latinos Influence Mental Health Among a Pregnant Latina Cohort. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024; 11:2154-2165. [PMID: 37391606 PMCID: PMC10756922 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01684-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Latina women living in the USA experience disproportionately higher rates of psychological distress compared to their non-Latina White counterparts. Poor maternal mental health during pregnancy can contribute to intergenerational mental health disparities. Through this pathway, mothers' experiences, environments, and exposures (henceforth "exposures") during pregnancy become biologically embodied and can negatively affect the fetus and life-long developmental trajectories of her child. One of the exposures that can affect mother-offspring dyads is the neighborhood. With the goal of integrating anthropological and sociological theories to explain mental health disparities among pregnant Latina women, we explored how perceptions of neighbor attitudes may influence mental health during pregnancy. We analyzed self-reported responses from 239 pregnant Latina women in Southern California (131 foreign-born, 108 US-born) on their mental health and perceived attitudes of their neighbors using multiple linear regression models. Among foreign-born Latina women, living in neighborhoods with more favorable views of Latinos was associated with lower depression scores (pooled β = - .70, SE = .29, p = .019) and lower pregnancy-related anxiety scores (pooled β = - .11, SE = .05, p = .021), but greater state anxiety scores (pooled β = .09, SE = .04, p = .021). Among US-born women, there were no associations between neighbor attitudes and mental health. Overall, results suggest that social environments are correlated with mental health and that foreign-born and US-born Latinas have varied mental health experiences in the USA. Our findings highlight the importance of improving aspects of neighborhood cohesion as part of maternal-fetal care management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine J Chua
- Department of Anthropology, University of California Los Angeles, 341 Haines Hall, 375 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- California Center for Population Research, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Delaney A Knorr
- Department of Anthropology, University of California Los Angeles, 341 Haines Hall, 375 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- California Center for Population Research, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Janelly Jimenez
- Department of Anthropology, University of California Los Angeles, 341 Haines Hall, 375 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Arlene Francia
- Department of Anthropology, University of California Los Angeles, 341 Haines Hall, 375 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Valeria Rojas
- Department of Anthropology, University of California Los Angeles, 341 Haines Hall, 375 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jhoana Infante Garcia
- Department of Anthropology, University of California Los Angeles, 341 Haines Hall, 375 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Molly Fox
- Department of Anthropology, University of California Los Angeles, 341 Haines Hall, 375 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- California Center for Population Research, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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Johnson ST, Mason SM, Erickson D, Slaughter-Acey JC, Waters MC. Predicting Post-Disaster Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Trajectories: The Role of Pre-Disaster Traumatic Experiences. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:749. [PMID: 38928995 PMCID: PMC11204121 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
The mental health impact of disasters is substantial, with 30-40% of direct disaster victims developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is not yet clear why some people cope well with disaster-related trauma while others experience chronic dysfunction. Prior research on non-disaster trauma suggests that an individual's history of traumatic experiences earlier in the life course, prior to the disaster, may be a key factor in explaining variability in psychological responses to disasters. This study evaluated the extent to which pre-disaster trauma predicts PTSD trajectories in a sample of Hurricane Katrina survivors followed for 12 years after the storm. Four PTSD trajectories were identified using latent class growth analysis: Resistant (49.0%), Recovery (29.3%), Delayed-Onset (8.0%), and Chronic-High (13.7%). After adjusting for covariates, pre-Katrina trauma had only a small, positive impact on the probability of long-term, chronic Katrina-specific PTSD, and little effect on the probability of the Resistant and Delayed-Onset trajectories. Higher pre-Katrina trauma exposure moderately decreased the probability of being in the Recovery trajectory, in which Katrina-specific PTSD symptoms are initially high before declining over time. When covariates were added to the model one at a time, the association between pre-Katrina trauma and Chronic-High PTSD was attenuated most by the addition of Katrina-related trauma. Our findings suggest that while pre-disaster trauma exposure does not have a strong direct effect on chronic Katrina-specific PTSD, pre-Katrina trauma may impact PTSD through other factors that affect Katrina-related PTSD, such as by increasing the severity of Katrina-related trauma. These findings have important implications for the development of disaster preparedness strategies to diminish the long-term burden of disaster-related PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney T. Johnson
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 1300 S. 2nd Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - Susan M. Mason
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 1300 S. 2nd Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - Darin Erickson
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 1300 S. 2nd Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - Jaime C. Slaughter-Acey
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 1300 S. 2nd Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - Mary C. Waters
- Department of Sociology, Harvard University, 540 William James Hall, 33 Kirkland Street, Cambridge, MA 01238, USA
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Mitchell A, Maheen H, Bowen K. Mental health impacts from repeated climate disasters: an australian longitudinal analysis. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. WESTERN PACIFIC 2024; 47:101087. [PMID: 38831889 PMCID: PMC11145535 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2024.101087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Background Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense under changing climatic conditions. Whilst there is substantial evidence that exposure to a single weather related disaster is detrimental for mental health, few studies have explored how exposure to multiple disasters impacts mental health. Methods We utilised 11 waves of data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, yielding a sample of 16,629 observations from 2003 individuals. Fixed effects linear regression analysis was used to estimate the impact of experiencing multiple disasters on mental health. We tested for effect modification on this association by sex, rurality, employment and presence of a long-term health condition. Findings Exposure to multiple disasters was associated with a relative decrease in MHI-5 score compared to baseline by -1.8 points (95% CI -3.4, -0.3), whereas exposure to a single disaster was not associated with a decline in mental health scores. There was evidence of effect modification by employment status. Unemployed individuals had evidence of moderate reduction in MHI-5 scores when exposed to a single disaster (-4.3, 95% CI -7.0, -1.5). Interpretation Findings suggest that repeat exposure to disasters is associated with worsening mental health outcomes. As extreme weather events increase, these findings highlight the need for greater attention on climate change action, and mental health interventions targeting impacted populations. Funding Suicide Prevention Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mitchell
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie St, Carlton, VIC, Australia
| | - Humaira Maheen
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie St, Carlton, VIC, Australia
| | - Kathryn Bowen
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie St, Carlton, VIC, Australia
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Lorenzini JA, Wong-Parodi G, Garfin DR. Associations between mindfulness and mental health after collective trauma: results from a longitudinal, representative, probability-based survey. ANXIETY, STRESS, AND COPING 2024; 37:361-378. [PMID: 37885136 DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2023.2267454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Trait mindfulness (TM) may protect against post-trauma mental health ailments and related impairment. Few studies have evaluated this association in the context of collective traumas using representative samples or longitudinal designs. DESIGN/METHOD We explored relationships between TM and collective trauma-related outcomes in a prospective, representative, probability-based sample of 1846 U.S. Gulf Coast residents repeatedly exposed to catastrophic hurricanes, assessed twice during the COVID-19 outbreak (Wave 1: 5/14/20-5/27/20; Wave 2: 12/21/21-1/11/22). Generalized estimating equations examined longitudinal relationships between TM, COVID-19-related fear/worry, hurricane-related fear/worry, global distress, and functional impairment; ordinary least squares regression analyses examined the cross-sectional association between TM and COVID-19-related posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) at Wave 1. Event-related stressor exposure was explored as a moderator. RESULTS In covariate-adjusted models including pre-event mental health ailments and demographics, TM was negatively associated with COVID-19-related fear/worry, hurricane-related fear/worry, global distress, and functional impairment over time; in cross-sectional analyses, TM was negatively associated with COVID-19-related PTSS. TM moderated the relationship between COVID-19 secondary stressor exposure (e.g., lost job/wages) and both global distress and functional impairment over time. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest TM may buffer adverse psychosocial outcomes following collective trauma, with some evidence TM may protect against negative effects of secondary stressor exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay Andrew Lorenzini
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Gabrielle Wong-Parodi
- Department of Earth Systems Science, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Social Sciences Division, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Dana Rose Garfin
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Storr LE, Hertelendy AJ, Hart A, Cheng L, Issa F, Benham T, Ciottone G. Determining the Impact of Hurricane Dorian and the Covid-19 Pandemic on Moral Distress in Emergency Medical Providers at the Rand Memorial Hospital: Moral distress in emergency medical personnel. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2024; 18:e42. [PMID: 38450454 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2024.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this work was to determine the impact of Moral Distress (MD) in emergency physicians, nurses, and emergency medical service staff at the Rand Memorial Hospital (RMH) in the Bahamas, and the impact of Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic on Moral Distress. METHOD A cross-sectional study utilizing a 3-part survey, which collected sociodemographic information, Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19 experiences, as well as responses to a validated modified Moral Distress Scale (MDS). RESULTS Participants with 2 negatively impactful experiences from COVID-19 had statistically significantly increased MD compared to participants with only 1 negatively impactful experience (40.4 vs. 23.6, P = 0.014). Losing a loved one due to COVID-19 was associated with significantly decreased MD (B = - 0.42, 95% CI -19.70 to -0.88, P = 0.03). Losing a loved one due to Hurricane Dorian had a non-statistically significant trend towards higher MD scores (B = 0.34, 95% CI -1.23 to 28.75, P = 0.07). CONCLUSION The emergency medical staff at the RMH reported having mild - moderate MD. This is one of the first studies to look at the impact of concurrent disasters on MD in emergency medical providers in the Bahamas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Latoya E Storr
- BIDMC Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Attila J Hertelendy
- BIDMC Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Information Systems and Business Analytics, College of Business, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Alexander Hart
- BIDMC Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - Lenard Cheng
- BIDMC Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Fadi Issa
- BIDMC Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Todd Benham
- BIDMC Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gregory Ciottone
- BIDMC Disaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Auchincloss AH, Ruggiero DA, Donnelly MT, Chernak ED, Kephart JL. Adolescent mental distress in the wake of climate disasters. Prev Med Rep 2024; 39:102651. [PMID: 38405174 PMCID: PMC10884511 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2024.102651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Retrospective exposure to a higher number and prolonged duration of climate-related disasters could be positively associated with adolescent mental distress. Methods Person-level data came from 38,616 high-school students residing in 22 urban public-school districts in 14 states (U.S. Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2019). Each district's federally declared climate-related catastrophes (severe storms, floods, wildfire, etc.) came from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Logistic regression models estimated the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) of adolescent mental distress (MD, using survey responses feeling prolonged sadness/ hopelessness and short sleep duration) according to disaster events and days during three exposure periods (past 2-, 5-, 10-years); adjusted for age, gender, race/ethnicity, socio-economic disadvantage, feeling unsafe at school, district area size, district poverty, and region. Results Over 10 years, the median number of disaster events was 3 and total disaster days was 64. Adolescents experiencing the highest number of disaster days (top quartile vs. less) had 25% higher odds of MD when exposed within the past 2-years (aOR 1.25 [95% CI 1.14, 1.38]), and 20% higher odds of MD when exposed within the past 5-years (aOR 1.20 95% CI 1.07, 1.35). The odds of MD were not statistically associated with exposure periods that extended to 10 years, nor disaster events (instead of disaster days, all p-values > 0.1). Conclusions Severe weather will become more frequent and last longer with human-induced climate warming. More studies like this are needed to understand the broad range of adverse effects and enhance planning and preparedness including preparing for worsening mental health among adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy H. Auchincloss
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Urban Health Collaborative, School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Dominic A. Ruggiero
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Meghan T. Donnelly
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Esther D. Chernak
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Josiah L. Kephart
- Urban Health Collaborative, School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Cannon CEB, Ferreira R, Buttell F. A disaster's disparate impacts: analysing perceived stress and personal resilience across gender and race. DISASTERS 2023; 47:563-583. [PMID: 35904212 DOI: 10.1111/disa.12558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This research sought to identify differences in perceived stress and personal resilience across gender, race, and different types of stressors (such as rent or mortgage stress) among a sample of United States residents experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic. It used a cross-sectional, convenience sampling design for primary survey data collected over 10 weeks starting in April 2020 (n=374). Independent t-tests and binary logistic regression were performed to determine statistically significant differences between gender and race for perceived stress and personal resilience and to pinpoint key contributing factors. Results indicate women exhibited higher levels of stress, with non-IPV (intimate partner violence) reporting women evidencing higher levels of resilience than IPV reporting women. Racial minority women were more likely to experience nutritional stress, whereas White women were more likely to worry about rent or mortgage stress. These findings provide insight into disparate impacts across vulnerable populations at the start of a crisis with implications for improving pre- and post-disaster interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare E B Cannon
- Assistant Professor, Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis, United States
- Research Fellow, Department of Social Work, University of the Free State, South Africa
| | - Regardt Ferreira
- Associate Professor, Tulane University School of Social Work, United States
- Research Fellow, Department of Social Work, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Fred Buttell
- Research Fellow, Department of Social Work, University of the Free State, South Africa
- Professor, Tulane University School of Social Work, United States
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Callender R, Canales JM, Avendano C, Craft E, Ensor KB, Miranda ML. Economic and mental health impacts of multiple adverse events: Hurricane Harvey, other flooding events, and the COVID-19 pandemic. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 214:114020. [PMID: 35948147 PMCID: PMC9357442 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the economic and mental health impacts of COVID-19 in the presence of previous exposure to flooding events. METHODS Starting in April 2018, the Texas Flood Registry (TFR) invited residents to complete an online survey regarding their experiences with Hurricane Harvey and subsequent flooding events. Starting in April 2020, participants nationwide were invited to complete a brief online survey on their experiences during the pandemic. This study includes participants in the TFR (N = 20,754) and the COVID-19 Registry (N = 8568) through October 2020 (joint N = 2929). Logistic regression and generalized estimating equations were used to examine the relationship between exposure to flooding events and the economic and mental health impacts of COVID-19. RESULTS Among COVID-19 registrants, 21% experienced moderate to severe anxiety during the pandemic, and 7% and 12% of households had difficulty paying rent and bills, respectively. Approximately 17% of Black and 15% of Hispanic households had difficulty paying rent, compared to 5% of non-Hispanic white households. The odds of COVID-19 income loss are 1.20 (1.02, 1.40) times higher for those who previously had storm-related home damage compared to those who did not and 3.84 (3.25-4.55) times higher for those who experienced Harvey income loss compared to those who did not. For registrants for whom Harvey was a severe impact event, the odds of having more severe anxiety during the pandemic are 5.14 (4.02, 6.58) times higher than among registrants for whom Harvey was a no meaningful impact event. CONCLUSIONS Multiple crises can jointly and cumulatively shape health and wellbeing outcomes. This knowledge can help craft emergency preparation and intervention programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashida Callender
- Children's Environmental Health Initiative, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Joally M Canales
- Children's Environmental Health Initiative, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Carolina Avendano
- Children's Environmental Health Initiative, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, USA
| | | | | | - Marie Lynn Miranda
- Children's Environmental Health Initiative, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, USA; Department of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, USA.
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Tomita A, Ncama BP, Moodley Y, Davids R, Burns JK, Mabhaudhi T, Modi AT, Slotow R. Community disaster exposure and first onset of depression: A panel analysis of nationally representative South African data, 2008-2017. PLOS CLIMATE 2022; 1:0000024. [PMID: 37720892 PMCID: PMC7615093 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pclm.0000024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Sub-Saharan Africa faces unprecedented disasters, with climate change expected to exacerbate the frequency and severity of unpredictable and stressful catastrophic events. Unlike developed nations, reconstruction in developing nations is hindered by resource constraints, with certain communities potentially experiencing multiple and enduring effects of disasters. Despite the potential danger of such cumulative community disaster exposure on mental health (e.g. depression), large-scale population-level evidence for the region is limited. We investigated the association between exposure to cumulative disaster and the first onset of depression in a nationally representative survey in South Africa. We used panel data from the South African National Income Dynamics Study (SA-NIDS) from 2008-2017, consisting of 17,255 adult study participants who were depression free at baseline. Risk of first depression onset between individuals exposed and unexposed to community disaster was measured, accounting for multiple disaster exposure over time by fitting generalized estimating equation (GEE) regression models. Data on the geographic location of disasters were obtained from the South African government gazette, and mapped with the government delineated SA-NIDS households' locations. Of the sampled individuals, 2,986 were exposed to disaster during the study duration (17.3%). Increased cumulative community disaster was significantly associated with the likelihood of depression onset (adjusted relative risk [aRR] = 1.20, p<0.01, 95% CI: 1.09-1.33), even after controlling for socio-demographic factors. In sub-group analyses, greater likelihood of depression onset was found among females [but not in men] (aRR = 1.23, p<0.01, 95% CI: 1.09-1.38), Black African [but not in other population group] (aRR = 1.21, p<0.01, 95% CI: 1.09-1.36), lower education attainment group [but not in tertiary and above educational attainment group] (aRR = 1.20, p<0.01, 95% CI: 1.08-1.33), and lower income attainment group [but not in the top income quartile group] (aRR = 1.24, p<0.01, 95% CI: 1.11-1.38), due to cumulative community disaster. Although cumulative community disaster exposure was significantly associated with the first onset of depression, its negative impact may be more pronounced among individuals considered chronically socially vulnerable (i.e. the groups above) in South Africa. Given that many individuals in South Africa rely on social, food parcel relief, and health services from government/public sector, timely access to community-based supportive intervention is needed for disaster survivors, prioritizing socially vulnerable groups to help mitigate problems associated with mental health challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Tomita
- Centre for Rural Health, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Busisiwe P. Ncama
- School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Yoshan Moodley
- School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Africa Health Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Rashieda Davids
- School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Jonathan K. Burns
- Institute of Health Research, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi
- Centre for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems, School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI-GH)—West Africa Regional Office, Accra, Ghana
| | - Albert T. Modi
- Centre for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems, School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Rob Slotow
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College, London, United Kingdom
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Public health implications of multiple disaster exposures. Lancet Public Health 2022; 7:e274-e286. [DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(21)00255-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Hu MD, Lawrence KG, Gall M, Emrich CT, Bodkin MR, Jackson WB, MacNell N, Kwok RK, Engel LS, Sandler DP. Natural hazards and mental health among US Gulf Coast residents. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2021; 31:842-851. [PMID: 33603095 PMCID: PMC8371064 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-021-00301-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals affected by disasters are at risk for adverse mental health sequelae. Individuals living in the US Gulf Coast have experienced many recent major disasters, but few studies have explored the cumulative burden of experiencing multiple disasters on mental health. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between disaster burden and mental health. METHODS We used data from 9278 Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study participants who completed questionnaires on perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 2011-2013. We linked 2005-2010 county-level data from the Spatial Hazard Events and Losses Database for the United States, a database of loss-causing events, to participant's home address. Exposure measures included total count of loss events as well as severity quantified as property/crop losses per capita from all hazards. We used multilevel modeling to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each exposure-outcome relationship. RESULTS Total count of loss events was positively associated with perceived stress (ORQ4:1.40, 95% CI:1.21-1.61) and was inversely associated with PTSD (ORQ4:0.66, 95% CI:0.45-0.96). Total duration of exposure was also associated with stress (ORQ4:1.16, 95% CI:1.01-1.33) but not with other outcomes. Severity based on cumulative fatalities/injuries was associated with anxiety (ORQ4:1.31, 95% CI:1.05-1.63) and stress (ORQ4:1.34, 95% CI:1.15-1.57), and severity based on cumulative property/crop losses was associated with anxiety (ORQ4:1.42, 95% CI:1.12-1.81), depression (ORQ4:1.22, 95% CI:0.95-1.57) and PTSD (ORQ4:1.99, 95% CI:1.44-2.76).
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Hu
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Kaitlyn G Lawrence
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Melanie Gall
- Center for Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Christopher T Emrich
- College of Community Innovation and Education, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | | | | | | | - Richard K Kwok
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lawrence S Engel
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Dale P Sandler
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA.
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Solo-Gabriele HM, Fiddaman T, Mauritzen C, Ainsworth C, Abramson DM, Berenshtein I, Chassignet EP, Chen SS, Conmy RN, Court CD, Dewar WK, Farrington JW, Feldman MG, Ferguson AC, Fetherston-Resch E, French-McCay D, Hale C, He R, Kourafalou VH, Lee K, Liu Y, Masi M, Maung-Douglass ES, Morey SL, Murawski SA, Paris CB, Perlin N, Pulster EL, Quigg A, Reed DJ, Ruzicka JJ, Sandifer PA, Shepherd JG, Singer BH, Stukel MR, Sutton TT, Weisberg RH, Wiesenburg D, Wilson CA, Wilson M, Wowk KM, Yanoff C, Yoskowitz D. Towards integrated modeling of the long-term impacts of oil spills. MARINE POLICY 2021; 131:1-18. [PMID: 37850151 PMCID: PMC10581399 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Although great progress has been made to advance the scientific understanding of oil spills, tools for integrated assessment modeling of the long-term impacts on ecosystems, socioeconomics and human health are lacking. The objective of this study was to develop a conceptual framework that could be used to answer stakeholder questions about oil spill impacts and to identify knowledge gaps and future integration priorities. The framework was initially separated into four knowledge domains (ocean environment, biological ecosystems, socioeconomics, and human health) whose interactions were explored by gathering stakeholder questions through public engagement, assimilating expert input about existing models, and consolidating information through a system dynamics approach. This synthesis resulted in a causal loop diagram from which the interconnectivity of the system could be visualized. Results of this analysis indicate that the system naturally separates into two tiers, ocean environment and biological ecosystems versus socioeconomics and human health. As a result, ocean environment and ecosystem models could be used to provide input to explore human health and socioeconomic variables in hypothetical scenarios. At decadal-plus time scales, the analysis emphasized that human domains influence the natural domains through changes in oil-spill related laws and regulations. Although data gaps were identified in all four model domains, the socioeconomics and human health domains are the least established. Considerable future work is needed to address research gaps and to create fully coupled quantitative integrative assessment models that can be used in strategic decision-making that will optimize recoveries from future large oil spills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena M. Solo-Gabriele
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | | | - Cecilie Mauritzen
- Department of Climate, Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Oslo, Norway
| | - Cameron Ainsworth
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
| | - David M. Abramson
- School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Igal Berenshtein
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
| | - Eric P. Chassignet
- Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Shuyi S. Chen
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Robyn N. Conmy
- Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Christa D. Court
- Food and Resource Economics Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - William K. Dewar
- Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Geophysique de l’Environnement, French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Grenoble, France 38000, and Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | | | - Michael G. Feldman
- Consortium for Ocean Leadership, Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, Washington, DC 20005, USA
| | - Alesia C. Ferguson
- Built Environment Department, College of Science and Technology, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
| | | | | | - Christine Hale
- Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA
| | - Ruoying He
- Dept. of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Vassiliki H. Kourafalou
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
| | - Kenneth Lee
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ecosystem Science, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0E6, Canada
| | - Yonggang Liu
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
| | - Michelle Masi
- Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Galveston, TX 77551, USA
| | | | - Steven L. Morey
- School of the Environment, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA
| | - Steven A. Murawski
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
| | - Claire B. Paris
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
| | - Natalie Perlin
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
| | - Erin L. Pulster
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
| | - Antonietta Quigg
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77553, USA
| | - Denise J. Reed
- Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA
| | - James J. Ruzicka
- Cooperative Institute for Marine Resources Studies, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - Paul A. Sandifer
- Center for Coastal Environmental and Human Health, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29424, USA
| | - John G. Shepherd
- School of Ocean & Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Burton H. Singer
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Michael R. Stukel
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Tracey T. Sutton
- Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL 33004, USA
| | - Robert H. Weisberg
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
| | - Denis Wiesenburg
- School of Ocean Science and Engineering, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | | | - Monica Wilson
- Florida Sea Grant, University of Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
| | - Kateryna M. Wowk
- Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA
| | - Callan Yanoff
- Consortium for Ocean Leadership, Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, Washington, DC 20005, USA
| | - David Yoskowitz
- Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA
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13
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Harville EW, Shankar A, Buekens P, Wickliffe JK, Lichtveld MY. Self-reported oil spill exposure and birth outcomes among southern Louisiana women at the time of the Gulf oil spill: The GROWH study. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2021; 237:113829. [PMID: 34450543 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The chemical, physical, economic, and social effects of a major oil spill might adversely affect pregnancy health. OBJECTIVES To examine the relationship between oil spill exposure and birth outcomes in a cohort of women living near the Gulf of Mexico at the time of the 2010 oil spill. METHODS Between 2012 and 2016, 1375 women reported their exposure to the oil spill, and at least one livebirth. Five hundred and three had births both before and after the oil spill. Indicators of oil spill exposure included self-reported financial consequences, direct contact with oil, traumatic experiences, loss of use of the coast, and involvement in litigation. Birth outcomes were low birthweight (LBW; birthweight <2500 g) and preterm birth (PTB; >3 weeks early). Women who were not pregnant at the time of the interview (n = 1001) self-reported outcomes, while women who were pregnant (n = 374) primarily had them abstracted from medical records (n = 374). All pregnancies prior to the oil spill were considered unexposed; those after the oil spill were considered exposed or unexposed depending on interview responses. Generalized estimating equations were used to control for clustering within women, with control for confounders. RESULTS The most common type of exposure was economic (49%), but 302 women (22.0%) reported some degree of direct contact with the oil. Associations between most indicators of oil spill exposure and pregnancy outcomes were null, although when all pregnancies were examined, associations were seen with high levels of contact with oil for LBW (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 2.19, 95% CI, 1.29-3.71) and PTB (aOR 2.27, 1.34-3.87). DISCUSSION In this community-based cohort, we did not find associations between report of exposure to the oil spill, with the possible exception of high oil contact in some analyses, and birth outcomes. Research incorporating specific biomarkers of oil spill exposure and stress biomarkers would be valuable, to allow for assessing both perceived and actual exposure, especially when direct toxicant exposure is minimal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily W Harville
- Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
| | - Arti Shankar
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Pierre Buekens
- Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Jeffrey K Wickliffe
- Department of Global Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Maureen Y Lichtveld
- Department of Global Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
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14
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The Psychosocial Impact of Compounding Humanitarian Crises Caused by War and COVID-19 Informing Future Disaster Response. Prehosp Disaster Med 2021; 36:501-502. [PMID: 34353399 PMCID: PMC8367870 DOI: 10.1017/s1049023x21000844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused the greatest global loss of life and economic impact due to a respiratory virus since the 1918 influenza pandemic. While health care systems around the world faced the enormous challenges of managing COVID-19 patients, health care workers in the Republic of Armenia were further tasked with caring for the surge of casualties from a concurrent, large-scale war. These compounding events put a much greater strain on the health care system, creating a complex humanitarian crisis that resulted in significant psychosocial consequences for health care workers in Armenia.
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15
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Arjmand HA, Seabrook E, Bakker D, Rickard N. Mental Health Consequences of Adversity in Australia: National Bushfires Associated With Increased Depressive Symptoms, While COVID-19 Pandemic Associated With Increased Symptoms of Anxiety. Front Psychol 2021; 12:635158. [PMID: 34093316 PMCID: PMC8170463 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.635158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
High quality monitoring of mental health and well-being over an extended period is essential to understand how communities respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and how to best tailor interventions. Multiple community threats may also have cumulative impact on mental health, so examination across several contexts is important. The objective of this study is to report on changes in mental health and well-being in response to the Australian bushfires and COVID-19 pandemic. This study utilized an Experience-Sampling-Method (ESM), using the smartphone-based mood monitoring application, MoodPrism. Participants were prompted once a day to complete a brief survey inquiring about symptoms of depression and anxiety, and several well-being indices, including arousal, emotional valence, self-esteem, motivation, social connectedness, meaning and purpose, and control. Participants were N = 755 Australians (aged 13 years and above) who downloaded and used MoodPrism, between 2018 and 2020. Results showed that anxiety symptoms significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but not during the bushfires. This may be explained by concurrent feelings of social connectedness maintained during the bushfires but not during the pandemic. In contrast, depressive symptoms increased significantly during the bushfires, which maintained during the pandemic. Most indices of well-being decreased significantly during the bushfires, and further again during the pandemic. Study findings highlight the unique responses to the bushfire and COVID-19 crises, revealing specific areas of resilience and vulnerability. Such information can help inform the development of public health interventions or individual clinical treatment, to improve treatment approaches and preparedness for potential future community disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elizabeth Seabrook
- Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
| | - David Bakker
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Research Unit, Institute for Social Neuroscience, Heidelberg, BW, Australia
| | - Nikki Rickard
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Centre for Positive Psychology, Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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16
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Petersen JM, Ranker LR, Barnard-Mayers R, MacLehose RF, Fox MP. A systematic review of quantitative bias analysis applied to epidemiological research. Int J Epidemiol 2021; 50:1708-1730. [PMID: 33880532 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyab061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quantitative bias analysis (QBA) measures study errors in terms of direction, magnitude and uncertainty. This systematic review aimed to describe how QBA has been applied in epidemiological research in 2006-19. METHODS We searched PubMed for English peer-reviewed studies applying QBA to real-data applications. We also included studies citing selected sources or which were identified in a previous QBA review in pharmacoepidemiology. For each study, we extracted the rationale, methodology, bias-adjusted results and interpretation and assessed factors associated with reproducibility. RESULTS Of the 238 studies, the majority were embedded within papers whose main inferences were drawn from conventional approaches as secondary (sensitivity) analyses to quantity-specific biases (52%) or to assess the extent of bias required to shift the point estimate to the null (25%); 10% were standalone papers. The most common approach was probabilistic (57%). Misclassification was modelled in 57%, uncontrolled confounder(s) in 40% and selection bias in 17%. Most did not consider multiple biases or correlations between errors. When specified, bias parameters came from the literature (48%) more often than internal validation studies (29%). The majority (60%) of analyses resulted in >10% change from the conventional point estimate; however, most investigators (63%) did not alter their original interpretation. Degree of reproducibility related to inclusion of code, formulas, sensitivity analyses and supplementary materials, as well as the QBA rationale. CONCLUSIONS QBA applications were rare though increased over time. Future investigators should reference good practices and include details to promote transparency and to serve as a reference for other researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie M Petersen
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lynsie R Ranker
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ruby Barnard-Mayers
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richard F MacLehose
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Matthew P Fox
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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17
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Cannon CEB, Ferreira R, Buttell F, First J. COVID-19, Intimate Partner Violence, and Communication Ecologies. THE AMERICAN BEHAVIORAL SCIENTIST 2021:0002764221992826. [PMCID: PMC7868350 DOI: 10.1177/0002764221992826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to identify important predictors, related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, of intimate partner violence (IPV) and to provide insight into communication ecologies that can address IPV in disaster contexts. This study uses a cross-sectional design, with purposive snowball sampling, for primary survey data collected over 10 weeks starting the first week in April 2020. A total of 374 adults participated in the study. Logistic binary regression was used to identify key predictors among sociodemographic characteristics, stress related to COVID-19, and perceived stress of group membership for those who reported IPV experiences. A t test was used to statistically differentiate between IPV-reporters and non-IPV reporters based on perceived stress measured by the Perceived Stress Scale. Results indicated that respondents who reported renting, lost income due to COVID-19, and increased nutritional stress were all more likely to belong to the IPV-reporters group. These findings provide insight into additional stressors related to the ongoing pandemic, such as stress due to income loss, nutritional stress, and renting, and their likelihood of increasing IPV victimization. Taken together, these results indicate that additional communication resources are needed for those affected by IPV. Additional findings and implications are further discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare E. B. Cannon
- UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
- Clare E. B. Cannon, University of California, Davis 1 Shield Avenue, 1309 Hart Hall, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Regardt Ferreira
- University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
- Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Frederick Buttell
- University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
- Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
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18
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Silveira S, Kornbluh M, Withers MC, Grennan G, Ramanathan V, Mishra J. Chronic Mental Health Sequelae of Climate Change Extremes: A Case Study of the Deadliest Californian Wildfire. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18041487. [PMID: 33557397 PMCID: PMC7915298 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18041487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Introduction. Weather-related disasters, such as wildfires exacerbated by a rise in global temperatures, need to be better studied in terms of their mental health impacts. This study focuses on the mental health sequelae of the deadliest wildfire in California to date, the Camp Fire of 2018. Methods. We investigated a sample of 725 California residents with different degrees of disaster exposure and measured mental health using clinically validated scales for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Data were collected at a chronic time-point, six months post-wildfire. We used multiple regression analyses to predict the mental health outcomes based on self-reported fire exposure. Additionally, we included vulnerability and resilience factors in hierarchical regression analyses. Results. Our primary finding is that direct exposure to large scale fires significantly increased the risk for mental health disorders, particularly for PTSD and depression. Additionally, the inclusion of vulnerability and resilience factors in the hierarchical regression analyses led to the significantly improved prediction of all mental health outcomes. Childhood trauma and sleep disturbances exacerbated mental health symptoms. Notably, self-reported resilience had a positive effect on mental health, and mindfulness was associated with significantly lower depression and anxiety symptoms. Conclusion. Overall, our study demonstrated that climate-related extreme events, such as wildfires, can have severe mental illness sequelae. Moreover, we found that pre-existing stressful life events, resilient personality traits and lifestyle factors can play an important role in the prevalence of psychopathology after such disasters. Unchecked climate change projected for the latter half of this century may severely impact the mental wellbeing of the global population, and we must find ways to foster individual resiliency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarita Silveira
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA 92037, USA; (S.S.); (G.G.)
- Neural Engineering and Translation Labs, University of California, San Diego, CA 92037, USA
| | - Mariah Kornbluh
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA;
| | - Mathew C. Withers
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Chico, CA 95929, USA;
| | - Gillian Grennan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA 92037, USA; (S.S.); (G.G.)
- Neural Engineering and Translation Labs, University of California, San Diego, CA 92037, USA
| | | | - Jyoti Mishra
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA 92037, USA; (S.S.); (G.G.)
- Neural Engineering and Translation Labs, University of California, San Diego, CA 92037, USA
- Correspondence:
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19
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Pan H, Edwards SW, Ives C, Covert H, Harville EW, Lichtveld MY, Wickliffe JK, Hamilton CM. An Assessment of Environmental Health Measures in the Deepwater Horizon Research Consortia. CURRENT OPINION IN TOXICOLOGY 2020; 16:75-82. [PMID: 32457927 DOI: 10.1016/j.cotox.2019.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Research consortia play a key role in our understanding of how environmental exposures influence health and wellbeing, especially in the case of catastrophic events such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. A common challenge that prevents the optimal use of these data is the difficulty of harmonizing data regarding the environmental exposures and health effects across the studies within and among consortia. A review of the measures used by members of the Deepwater Horizon Research Consortia highlights the challenges associated with balancing timely implementation of a study to support disaster relief with optimizing the long-term value of the data. The inclusion of common, standard measures at the study design phase and a priori discussions regarding harmonization of study-specific measures among consortia members are key to overcoming this challenge. As more resources become available to support the use of standard measures, researchers now have the tools needed to rapidly coordinate their studies without compromising research focus or timely completion of the original study goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaqin Pan
- RTI International, 3040 East Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
| | - Stephen W Edwards
- RTI International, 3040 East Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
| | - Cataia Ives
- RTI International, 3040 East Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
| | - Hannah Covert
- Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112
| | - Emily W Harville
- Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112
| | - Maureen Y Lichtveld
- Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112
| | - Jeffrey K Wickliffe
- Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112
| | - Carol M Hamilton
- RTI International, 3040 East Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
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20
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Lowe SR, Bonumwezi JL, Valdespino-Hayden Z, Galea S. Posttraumatic Stress and Depression in the Aftermath of Environmental Disasters: A Review of Quantitative Studies Published in 2018. Curr Environ Health Rep 2020; 6:344-360. [PMID: 31487033 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-019-00245-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW As interest in the mental health consequences of environmental disasters increases, this review aimed to summarize peer-reviewed studies published in 2018 on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms after such events. RECENT FINDINGS Notable trends in the past year of research included studies focusing on vulnerable populations (e.g., persons with preexisting physical health conditions), assessing the cumulative impact of exposure to multiple disasters, exploring pathway leading to PTSD and depression symptoms, and evaluating the effectiveness of post-disaster interventions. Over 100 articles were identified, focused on 40 disasters that occurred between 1982 and 2017. Prevalence estimates ranged from 0 to 70.51% for PTSD and 1.9 to 59.5% for depression. Consistent predictors of adverse outcomes included female gender, socioeconomic disadvantage, high disaster exposure, and low psychosocial resources. Further research that expands upon recent advances in the literature is critical given the large proportion of the world's population exposed to disasters and the increasing incidence of such events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R Lowe
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College St., New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
| | | | | | - Sandro Galea
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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21
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Lowe SR, McGrath JA, Young MN, Kwok RK, Engel LS, Galea S, Sandler DP. Cumulative Disaster Exposure and Mental and Physical Health Symptoms Among a Large Sample of Gulf Coast Residents. J Trauma Stress 2019; 32:196-205. [PMID: 30913348 PMCID: PMC6476642 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
A large body of research has linked disaster exposure to adverse mental and physical health outcomes. Few studies, however, have explored the cumulative impact of exposure to multiple disasters. Participants (N = 8,366) from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Gulf Long-Term Follow-Up Study were classified as having been exposed to both, either, or neither Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DHOS). Participants also reported on a range of mental and physical health symptoms. Logistic regression models found that participants who were exposed to both disasters had significantly higher odds of probable generalized anxiety disorder, odds ratio (OR) = 1.72, 95% CI [1.52, 1.96]; major depression, OR = 1.53, 95% CI [1.32, 1.77]; and posttraumatic stress disorder, OR = 2.51, 95% CI [2.03, 3.10], than participants who were exposed to only one disaster, ps < .001. Additionally, a linear regression model found that participants who were exposed to both disasters had significantly more physical health symptoms at the time of the spill than those who were exposed to only one disaster, B = 0.99, SE = .20, p < .001. The results indicate that cumulative disaster exposure confers enhanced risk for adverse mental and physical health outcomes. The findings demonstrate that screening for prior exposure among disaster-affected individuals might identify those at greatest risk for adverse health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R. Lowe
- Department of Psychology, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey, USA
| | - John A. McGrath
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Megan N. Young
- Department of Psychology, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey, USA
| | - Richard K. Kwok
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Lawrence S. Engel
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, North Carolina, USA,Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sandro Galea
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts USA
| | - Dale P. Sandler
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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