60,000 disaster victims speak: Part II. Summary and implications of the disaster mental health research

Post-traumatic stress disorder in the Ethiopian population dwelling in war-affected communities: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant mental health concern globally, particularly prevalent in populations exposed to war and conflict. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to examine the prevalence and factors associated with PTSD among the Ethiopian population residing in war-affected communities.

Methods

The review was reported according to the PRISMA guidelines. Related eligible published articles were searched in electronic online databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Science Direct, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Google, which reported the prevalence and risk factors of PTSD among people dwelling in the war-affected area until January 2024. The relevant data was extracted using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. The meta-analysis was conducted using STATA version 11. The estimated pooled prevalence and risk factors were estimated using a random effect model. The potential risk of publication bias was checked using a funnel plot and Egger's statistical test.

Results

A total of nine published studies with 6107 participants were analyzed in this meta-analysis. The estimated pooled prevalence of PTSD among people living in war-affected areas was 48.4%, with a 95% CI (37.1, 59.8). This study found a higher prevalence of PTSD among women than men. Being female (OR= 2.2, 95% CI: 1.2, 4.3), witnessing a murder of a loved one (OR= 3.0, 95% CI: 1.2, 7.5), depression symptoms (OR= 2.8, 95% CI: 1.4, 5.6), and anxiety symptoms (OR= 3.4, 95% CI: 1.4, 8.0), a close family member killed or seriously injured (OR= 3.1, 95% CI: 1.2, 7.7), a moderate and high perceived threat to life (OR= 3.4, 95% CI: 1.3, 9.1), and poor social support (OR= 4.4, 95% CI: 1.1, 18.7) were associated with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Conclusion

The result of this study shows the high prevalence rate of PTSD in people living in war-affected areas. disparities in PTSD prevalence, with women being at higher risk, and identified risk factors were witnessing the murder of a loved one, experiencing depression and anxiety, and perceived threat to life. Addressing PTSD in war-affected communities requires comprehensive interventions that consider both individual and contextual factors.

Systematic review registration

www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42024501384.

Types of co-occurring patterns of mental health among the disaster victims in South Korea

This study examined co-occurring patterns of mental health among disaster victims using latent profile analysis and assessed the difference between sociodemographic factors and protective factors that affect group classification. The data of 2300 disaster victims from 2019 (4th wave) NDMI (National Disaster Management Research Institute) for Long-term Survey on the Change of Life of Disaster Victims were analyzed. The latent profile analysis revealed that three profiles; High comorbid symptom (HCS) (6.2%), Medium comorbid symptom (MCS) (22.6%), and Low symptom (LS) (71.2%). The factors that explain the difference in this divided profile group were the type of disaster, hurt, income, age, elapsed years, resilience, and community resilience in the multinomial logistic regression. When individual resilience and community resilience are high, more effective in making people belong to the low comorbid symptom group. Therefore, there is a need for a strategy that promotes synergy between the two relationships while maintaining a dual focus point of view that fosters resilience at the individual and community level together.

Psychiatric Morbidity and Suicidal Ideation Among Early Survivors Following the 2023 Kahramanmaras Earthquake in Turkey

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of psychiatric morbidity along with sociodemographic and earthquake-related data on suicidal ideation among survivors of the 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquake in Turkey.

METHOD

The study included 270 volunteers who experienced the 2023 earthquake in Kahramanmaras, a province in middle east region of Turkey. These individuals were informed of the use of their personal data within the scope of the personal data protection law numbered 6698 and consent was obtained. The volunteers participated in the study online and were evaluated with a sociodemographic data form, Suicidal Ideation Scale and DSM-5 level one cross-sectional symptom scale.

RESULTS

Single individuals (p = .009) and those who stated that they had insufficient social support (p = .001), had been injured or had lost a relative during the earthquake (p = .02), felt discrimination-exclusion after the earthquake (p = .03), and those who could not attend the funeral or funeral ceremony of their deceased relative (p < .001) scored higher on the Suicidal Ideation Scale. The DSM-5 level one cross-sectional symptom scale scores indicated that the scores in the depression (p = .024), somatization (p = .001), personality (p < .001) and addiction (0.039) subscales were more related to suicidal ideation.

CONCLUSION

After a mass trauma, it is very important to investigate the risk factors that may be associated with suicidal ideation among survivors and to be aware of possible psychiatric symptoms. Preventive actions in the earthquake-affected regions can be made more effective by considering these factors.

Psychological and social determinants of adaptation: the impact of finances, loneliness, information access and chronic stress on resilience activation

Background

Many people who face adversity, such as disasters, demonstrate resilience. However, less is known about reactions to large scale disasters with longer recovery periods. The concern is that protracted disasters may result in more chronic or accumulated stressors with an uncertain or unknown end point and can exhaust the natural coping methods and ability to rebound. Thus, understanding patterns of longer-term disaster recovery, inclusive of resilience, is needed. Further resilience is not individual specific rather social determinants, such as support networks and available resources, are contributing factors.

Methods

The purpose of this study is to improve understanding of mental health and resilience during increased stress, we aim to identify profiles of adaptation and psychological and social determinants that predict membership within predominant symptom groupings. We conducted an exploratory cross-section study (N = 334) with two phases of multivariate analysis. Latent profile models were estimated to identify groups based on depression, anxiety, and resilience scores. The second phase included a step-wise multinomial logistic regression to predict class membership.

Results

We identified four distinct groups: 33% of participants were categorized as anxious, 18% depressed, 9% comorbid, and 40% with above average levels of resilience. Psychosocial factors such as demographics, trauma history, information access, loneliness, and lack of financial resources predicted poorer mental health outcomes and lower resilience.

Conclusion

This study identified factors that contribute to overall wellbeing despite chronic stressors. Social determinants of adaptation, found in this study population, include loneliness, finances, and information access. The findings from this study support the need for both psychological and social adaption supports, inclusive of mental health treatment, to strengthen resilience activation.

Behavioral activation is associated with post-disaster mental health: Secondary longitudinal analysis from a population-based study

OBJECTIVE

Interventions in post-disaster environments may be accelerated by identifying protective behavioral factors adding incremental value to models of psychopathology using longitudinal methods. One protective behavior applicable to post-disaster contexts is behavioral activation (BA). BA is defined here as a behavioral pattern involving presence of valued activity engagement. While relevant post-disaster, the incremental value of BA behaviors in predicting longitudinal post-disaster outcomes is not well understood. We hypothesized that higher baseline engagement in behaviors consistent with a BA framework would predict decreased posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity, depression symptom severity, and sleep disturbance approximately 3, 6, and 12 months after hurricane survivors completed baseline measures.

METHODS

The current study is a secondary analysis from a randomized controlled trial of a disaster mental health digital intervention. Participants completed surveys at baseline and approximately 3, 6, and 12 months post-enrollment. Correlations and hierarchical regression analyses were calculated following data screening to predict PTSD symptom severity, depression symptom severity, and sleep disturbances.

RESULTS

Controlling for alcohol use, prior trauma, displacement, and intervention condition, higher baseline BA consistently predicted less PTSD symptom severity, depression symptom severity, and sleep disturbances.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest that post-disaster interventions should consider addressing BA. The study provides evidence that BA is potentially an important protective factor longitudinally predicting sleep disturbances and psychopathology after natural disasters.

Resilience and Disaster: Flexible Adaptation in the Face of Uncertain Threat

Disasters cause sweeping damage, hardship, and loss of life. In this article, we first consider the dominant psychological approach to disasters and its narrow focus on psychopathology (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder). We then review research on a broader approach that has identified heterogeneous, highly replicable trajectories of outcome, the most common being stable mental health or resilience. We review trajectory research for different types of disasters, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Next, we consider correlates of the resilience trajectory and note their paradoxically limited ability to predict future resilient outcomes. Research using machine learning algorithms improved prediction but has not yet illuminated the mechanism behind resilient adaptation. To that end, we propose a more direct psychological explanation for resilience based on research on the motivational and mechanistic components of regulatory flexibility. Finally, we consider how future research might leverage new computational approaches to better capture regulatory flexibility in real time.

Post-traumatic stress and depression following disaster: examining the mediating role of disaster resilience

The current study used structural equation modeling to examine the role of disaster resilience as a mediator between disaster exposure and post-traumatic stress and depressive symptoms among a sample of 625 U.S. adults who experienced a disaster event. Results found that disaster resilience mediated the relationship between disaster exposure as a predictor and depression and post-traumatic stress as dependent variables. These findings have important implications for understanding the mechanisms by which disaster resilience supports post-disaster mental health and can inform future disaster mental health interventions and practice models.

Staying connected: An umbrella review of meta-analyses on the push-and-pull of social connection in depression

BACKGROUND

Depression affects approximately 4 % of the global population and has huge social and economic implications. Social factors, including support, engagement, and stigma, play a crucial role in the development and severity of depression.

METHODS

We provide a synthesis of the consistency and magnitude of the association between measures of social connection and depression. We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE and 47 meta-analyses were included in the umbrella review. The strength of the associations was extracted and compared among different populations. The quality/certainty of evidence was assessed using AMSTAR-2 and GRADE tool.

RESULTS

Results indicate that social support serves as a protective factor against depression, particularly in peripartum populations, while its impact is weaker in clinical populations. No association was found between social support and depression in post-disaster populations. Stigma and discrimination favour the development and maintenance of depressive symptoms in clinical populations, but have a weaker effect in ethnic minorities.

LIMITATIONS

The quality and certainty of evidence should be taken into account when interpreting our findings. Further research with more rigorous methodology and higher-quality evidence is needed to better understand the complex relationship between depression and social connection across various populations and contexts.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings confirm the role of social determinants in the emergence and severity of depression, particularly in the case of vulnerable populations. Efforts to counteract disconnection at the societal and individual levels and to reduce stigma should be central to an effective depression prevention agenda.

Perceived COVID-19 Stress and Suicidal Ideation Among College Students: Meditation Roles of Family Cohesion and Unmet Interpersonal Needs

Purpose: Few studies examined variables that might explain the link between perceived COVID-19 stress and suicidal ideation. The present study tested a multiple-sequence mediation model with family cohesion, thwarted belongingness, and perceived burdensomeness as mediators. Methods: The current study surveyed 1098 college students in China using questionnaires concerning perceived COVID-19 stress, family cohesion, unmet interpersonal needs, and suicide ideation. Results: Perceived COVID-19 stress was significantly associated with family cohesion, thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and suicidal ideation. Family cohesion, thwarted belongingness, and perceived burdensomeness mediated the relationship between perceived COVID-19 stress and suicidal ideation separately. These factors also had multiple sequence-mediated effects between perceived COVID-19 stress and suicidal ideation. Conclusion: The study revealed pathways from perceived COVID-19 stress to suicidal ideation and suggested that interventions to increase family cohesion and reduce one's unmet interpersonal needs were beneficial in decreasing individuals' suicidal ideation.

Does disaster-related relocation impact mental health via changes in group participation among older adults? Causal mediation analysis of a pre-post disaster study of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake

BACKGROUND

Disaster-related relocation is associated with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, especially in older adults. Disaster-related relocation often deprives survivors of opportunities for social group participation, potentially deteriorating their mental health. On the contrary, the relocation could also be an opportunity for optimizing social relationships, ending/reducing unwanted participation. This study examined the potential mediation effects of changing participation for the link of disaster-related relocation to mental health.

METHODS

We analyzed a pre-post disaster dataset of functionally independent older adults from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study. Following the 2013 survey, a follow-up survey was conducted seven months after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake (n = 828).

RESULTS

The causal mediation analyses indicated that compared to no relocation, the relative risk for experiencing major depressive episodes among those relocating to temporary housing was 3.79 [95% confidence interval: 1.70-6.64] (natural direct effect). By contrast, the relative risk for those renewing (either ceased or started) group participation was 0.60 [95% CI: 0.34-0.94] (natural indirect effect).

CONCLUSIONS

Optimization of social ties according to a renewal of group participation status might have protected older adults in temporary housing against depression.

Resilience as Mediator in Relation to Parental Attachment and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Adolescents Following the Yancheng Tornado

Resilience and secure parental attachment have been proven as important factors to alleviate the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the effects of the two factors on PTSD and the mechanisms of its effect at different time points in the aftermath of trauma are still unclear. This study explores the relationship among parental attachment, resilience, and development of PTSD symptoms in adolescents from a longitudinal perspective following the Yancheng Tornado. Using cluster sampling method, a total of 351 Chinese adolescents, survivors of a severe tornado, were tested on their PTSD, parental attachment and resilience at 12-months and 18-months after experiencing the natural disaster. The results showed that our proposed model fit the data well: χ2/df = 3.197, CFI = 0.967, TLI = 0.950, RMSEA = 0.079. It revealed that the resilience at 18-months partially mediated the relationship between parental attachment at 12-months and PTSD at 18-months. Research results showed that parental attachment and resilience are key resources for coping with trauma.

Effects of Psychotherapy on the Problem Behaviors of Humidifier Disinfectant Survivors: The Role of Individual Characteristics and Adaptive Functioning

This study aimed to examine group differences in the survivors of humidifier damage and the effect of individual psychotherapy on the psychological symptoms of the survivor groups, using the single group pre-post study design. A series of Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests were conducted to investigate the level of psychological problems before and after psychotherapy, as well as the main and interaction effects of demographic characteristics and adaptive functioning on the treatment effects in 69 humidifier disinfectant survivors. The results demonstrated significant differences in problems with socioeconomic status (SES), life functioning, friendships, family relationships, and job adjustment in the survivor groups. Groups with high SES, low life functioning, and poor friend relationships had more problem behaviors than other groups. Problem behaviors related to friendship levels were different before and after psychotherapy. After psychotherapy, individuals with limited social connections exhibited a greater decrease in problem behaviors compared to those with strong friendships. This paper extends the international literature on the long-term consequences of environmental health hazards and the importance of tailored mental health interventions.

Exposure to self-reported traumatic events and probable PTSD in a national sample of Poles: Why does Poland's PTSD prevalence differ from other national estimates?

BACKGROUND

There is a lack of studies on trauma exposure and PTSD prevalence in Poland on representative samples. Available data from studies on convenient samples show very high rates of probable PTSD compared with relevant estimates in other countries.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to measure the exposure to self-report traumatic events (PTEs) and to estimate the current rate of prevalence of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in accordance with DSM-5 criteria in a population-based sample of Poles. Additionally, the link between PTSD intensity and level of life satisfaction was investigated.

METHOD

A representative sample of 1,598 adult Poles was recruited. Probable PTSD was assessed with the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale for DSM-5 (PDS-5) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) was also used.

RESULTS

The findings showed that 60.3% of Poles had experienced at least one PTE and 31.1% of those who had been exposed to trauma reported symptoms of PTSD. At the level of the entire sample, the obtained rate for probable PTSD was 18.8%. The traumatic events with the highest probabilities of PTSD symptoms were child abuse and sexual assault. Levels of life satisfaction were significantly lower in the group of participants with probable PTSD.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that the current prevalence of probable PTSD in Poland is intriguingly high relative to rates reported in comparable representative samples from other countries across the world. Possible mechanisms are discussed, including a lack of social acknowledgement of WWII and other traumas as well as poor access to trauma-focused care. We hope that this research may inspire more studies investigating cross-national differences in PTSD and trauma exposure.

Disaster Mental Health Risk Reduction: Appraising Disaster Mental Health Research as If Risk Mattered

The globally increasing frequency, intensity, and complexity of extreme climatic events and disasters poses significant challenges for the future health and wellbeing of affected populations around the world [...].

Real-time sensing of war's effects on wellbeing with smartphones and smartwatches

BACKGROUND

Modern wars have a catastrophic effect on the wellbeing of civilians. However, the nature of this effect remains unclear, with most insights gleaned from subjective, retrospective studies.

METHODS

We prospectively monitored 954 Israelis (>40 years) from two weeks before the May 2021 Israel-Gaza war until four weeks after the ceasefire using smartwatches and a dedicated mobile application with daily questionnaires on wellbeing. This war severely affected civilians on both sides, where over 4300 rockets and missiles were launched towards Israeli cities, and 1500 aerial, land, and sea strikes were launched towards 16,500 targets in the Gaza Strip.

RESULTS

We identify considerable changes in all the examined wellbeing indicators during missile attacks and throughout the war, including spikes in heart rate levels, excessive screen-on time, and a reduction in sleep duration and quality. These changes, however, fade shortly after the war, with all affected measures returning to baseline in nearly all the participants. Greater changes are observed in individuals living closer to the battlefield, women, and younger individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

The demonstrated ability to monitor objective and subjective wellbeing indicators during crises in real-time is pivotal for the early detection of and prompt assistance to populations in need.

Seismic activity and development of mood disorders: Findings from the 2016 Kyungju earthquake

BACKGROUND

An earthquake with a moment magnitude of 5.8 occurred in Kyungju on 12 September 2016. Although the earthquake was the largest seismic activity in Korean history, there were no direct casualties from the event. This study evaluated whether a moderate-level earthquake is related to acute development of mood disorders in earthquake-exposed residents.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The healthcare information of residents (n = 865,263) living in Kyungju and control cities (Gimpo, Jeonju, Gimhae, and Pohang) over a 10-year period (from 2010 to 2019) was gathered from the national health insurance database. Difference-in-difference analysis was used to compare the daily incidence of mood disorders (manic episode; bipolar affective disorder; depressive episode; recurrent depressive disorder) 20 weeks before (reference: -20 to -11 weeks, period 1: -10 to -1 weeks) and after (period 2: 0-9 weeks, period 3: 10-19 weeks) the earthquake. Subregional analyses based on the distance to the epicenter and stratification analyses by sex, age, and income were conducted.

RESULTS

The weekly average incidence rate (/100,000 persons) of mood disorders in Kyungju residents increased from 27.0 (-20 to -11 weeks) and 28.3 (-10 to -1 weeks) persons before the earthquake, to 38.1 persons (0 to 9 weeks) after the earthquake. A significant increase in the risk of developing mood disorders was observed in Kyungju residents during the 0 to 9 weeks after the earthquake when compared to the control cities [relative risk (95 % confidence intervals): vs. Gimpo, 1.40 (1.05, 1.88); vs. Jeonju, 1.45 (1.14, 1.84); vs. Gimhae, 1.48 (1.14, 1.93)]. The increase was more prominent in women, low-income individuals, and those living closer to the epicenter.

CONCLUSION

Moderate-level earthquakes without direct casualties may cause mood disorders in residents living in affected areas. Mental health aid programs should be provided to earthquake victims even if the earthquake has caused limited life and property loss.

Hurricane Michael and Adverse Social and Mental Health Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES

To assess changes in mental health and social risk factors in pregnant women in counties affected by Hurricane Michael (October 2018).

METHODS

Data from the Universal Perinatal Risk Screen (UPRS) and vital statistics for the state of Florida were obtained. Prenatal risk factors (unplanned pregnancy, mental health services, high stress, use of tobacco or alcohol, young children at home or with special needs, trouble paying bills) were compared in the year before and year after Hurricane Michael in affected counties (n = 18,887). Log-Poisson regression with robust variance was used for binary outcomes, adjusting for maternal age, race, BMI, and education.

RESULTS

A smaller proportion of pregnant women were screened in the months after the hurricane. No changes were seen in overall scores. The proportion referred was lower in the 1 month after Michael compared to that in 1 month before Michael (RR 0.78, 95% CI = 0.71, 0.86), but greater in the year after (RR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.10). Most individual risk factors on the screener did not change significantly, except having an illness that required ongoing medical care was less common in the short term (3 months after vs. 3 months before: aRR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.66, 0.87), and more common in the longer term (1 year after vs. 1 year before, aRR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.18). Birth certificate data suggested smoking during pregnancy was higher among women who experienced Michael during their pregnancies (aRR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.32).

DISCUSSION

Perinatal screening and referral declined in the short-term aftermath of Hurricane Michael.

Revealing hazard-exposure heterophily as a latent characteristic of community resilience in social-spatial networks

We present a latent characteristic in socio-spatial networks, hazard-exposure heterophily, to capture the extent to which populations with dissimilar hazard exposure could assist each other through social ties. Heterophily is the tendency of unlike individuals to form social ties. Conversely, populations in hazard-prone spatial areas with significant hazard-exposure similarity, homophily, would lack sufficient resourcefulness to aid each other to lessen the impact of hazards. In the context of the Houston metropolitan area, we use Meta's Social Connectedness data to construct a socio-spatial network in juxtaposition with flood exposure data from National Flood Hazard Layer to analyze flood hazard exposure of spatial areas. The results reveal the extent and spatial variation of hazard-exposure heterophily in the study area. Notably, the results show that lower-income areas have lower hazard-exposure heterophily possibly caused by income segregation and the tendency of affordable housing development to be located in flood zones. Less resourceful social ties in hazard-prone areas due to their high-hazard-exposure homophily may inhibit low-income areas from better coping with hazard impacts and could contribute to their slower recovery. Overall, the results underscore the significance of characterizing hazard-exposure heterophily in socio-spatial networks to reveal community vulnerability and resilience to hazards.

The impact of COVID-19 and bushfires on the mental health of Australian adolescents: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

When COVID-19 spread to Australia in January 2020, many communities were already in a state of emergency from the Black Summer bushfires. Studies of adolescent mental health have typically focused on the effects of COVID-19 in isolation. Few studies have examined the impact of COVID-19 and other co-occurring disasters, such as the Black Summer bushfires in Australia, on adolescent mental health.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional survey to examine the impact of COVID-19 and the Black Summer bushfires on the mental health of Australian adolescents. Participants (N = 5866; mean age 13.61 years) answered self-report questionnaires about COVID-19 diagnosis/quarantine (being diagnosed with and/or quarantined because of COVID-19) and personal exposure to bushfire harm (being physically injured, evacuated from home and/or having possessions destroyed). Validated standardised scales were used to assess depression, psychological distress, anxiety, insomnia, and suicidal ideation. Trauma related to COVID-19 and the bushfires was also assessed. The survey was completed in two large school-based cohorts between October 2020 and November 2021.

RESULTS

Exposure to COVID-19 diagnosis/quarantine was associated with increased probability of elevated trauma. Exposure to personal harm by the bushfires was associated with increased probability of elevated insomnia, suicidal ideation, and trauma. There were no interactive effects between disasters on adolescent mental health. Effects between personal risk factors and disasters were generally additive or sub-additive.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescent mental health responses to community-level disasters are multi-faceted. Complex psychosocial factors associated with mental ill health may be relevant irrespective of disaster. Future research is needed to investigate synergistic effects of disasters on young mental health.

Reliability and Validity of Chinese Version of the Perceived Competence Scale for Disaster Mental Health Workforce: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to translate the English version of the Perceived Competence Scale for Disaster Mental Health Workforce (PCS-DMHW) into Chinese, and to test its reliability and validity in Chinese mental health workers.

METHODS

With the consent of Professor Choi, Keimyung University, Korea, and the authorization of the scale, the English version of PCS-DMHW was translated, retranslated and culturally debugged to form the Chinese version of PCS-DMHW. The general information questionnaire and the Chinese version of PCS-DMHW scale were used to investigate 706 mental health workforce from 9 tertiary hospitals in Sichuan province in China from March 24, 2020 to April 14, 2020. The Cronbach's α coefficient was used to evaluate the internal consistency reliability of the scale, and the test-retest correlation coefficient r was used to evaluate the test-retest reliability of the scale. The content validity indexes (CVI) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used separately for evaluating the content validity and structure validity of the scale.

RESULTS

The Cronbach's α coefficient of the Chinese version of PCS-DMHW total scale, individual competences and organizational competences subscale was 0.978, 0.956, and 0.964, respectively. The test-retest reliability of the total scale, individual competences and organizational competences subscale was 0.949, 0.932 and 0.927, respectively. The item-level CVI of all scale were ranged from 0.833-1.000, the scale-level CVI (S-CVI)/universal agreement of the total scale, individual competences and organizational competences subscale was 0.833, 0.875, and 0.857, respectively, and the S-CVI/average was 0.972, 0.979, and 0.976, respectively. EFA showed that two principal components were extracted from the subscale of individual competences and organizational competences.

CONCLUSION

The Chinese version of PCS-DMHW has good reliability and validity, and can be widely used in China.

A year of pandemic: Levels, changes and validity of well-being data from Twitter. Evidence from ten countries

We use daily happiness scores (Gross National Happiness (GNH)) to illustrate how happiness changed throughout 2020 in ten countries across Europe and the Southern hemisphere. More frequently and regularly available than survey data, the GNH reveals how happiness sharply declined at the onset of the pandemic and lockdown, quickly recovered, and then trended downward throughout much of the year in Europe. GNH is derived by applying sentiment and emotion analysis-based on Natural Language Processing using machine learning algorithms-to Twitter posts (tweets). Using a similar approach, we generate another 11 variables: eight emotions and three new context-specific variables, in particular: trust in national institutions, sadness in relation to loneliness, and fear concerning the economy. Given the novelty of the dataset, we use multiple methods to assess validity. We also assess the correlates of GNH. The results indicate that GNH is negatively correlated with new COVID-19 cases, containment policies, and disgust and positively correlated with staying at home, surprise, and generalised trust. Altogether the analyses indicate tools based on Big Data, such as the GNH, offer relevant data that often fill information gaps and can valuably supplement traditional tools. In this case, the GNH results suggest that both the severity of the pandemic and containment policies negatively correlated with happiness.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, and Depression Symptoms After Potentially Traumatic Events: Latent Classes and Cognitive Correlates

People exposed to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) may develop distinct symptom patterns, which may require different therapeutic approaches. We aimed to identify classes of people exposed to PTEs based on the presence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) clusters, anxiety, and depression and to explore which cognitive factors (rumination, worry, and negative cognitions) are associated with class membership. Latent class analyses were conducted to identify subgroups of 258 PTE-exposed Spanish adults. A three-class solution emerged: a resilient class with low odds of all symptoms ( n = 188); a partial PTSD class, characterized by partial PTSD clusters, moderate anxiety, and low depression ( n = 36); and a high symptom class, characterized by high PTSD, moderate anxiety, and low depression ( n = 34). These classes related meaningfully to rumination, worry, and negative cognitions. Distinct symptom patterns of PTSD clusters, anxiety, and depression can be distinguished in people exposed to PTEs and relate to cognitive risk factors of psychopathology.

Resource allocation, individual social network, community trust and recovery from depression among rural survivors in the Wenchuan Earthquake

Using the three-wave longitudinal survey data of the Wenchuan disaster area, this study employed Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) to explore the recovery trajectory from depression of rural survivors after the Wenchuan earthquake. Across the three waves, 221 respondents (118 male, 103 female) provided complete data. We found that, at the individual level, the survivors' individual social networks had a significant effect on the change in depression scores in the four years following the earthquake, implying that a strong social network could help survivors recover from depression. At the community level, community trust had a significant effect both on the initial depression score at the time of the earthquake and on the survivors' change in depression scores after the earthquake. Survivors with high community trust had significantly lower depression scores, compared with those with low community trust at the time of the earthquake; however, the depression scores of the former increased in the four years following the earthquake and gradually approached the average depression level. At the social level, relief resource allocation also had a significant effect on the change in survivors' post-disaster depression; those who deemed the resource allocation to be very fair had a decrease in depression scores. The results of our study show that rich individual social networks and allocation of relief resources contribute to earthquake survivors' recovery from depression. Therefore, besides providing more adequate relief resources to survivors, we should also emphasize the rebuilding of their social networks.

CEO's Childhood Experience of Natural Disaster and CSR Activities

Interest in the drivers of firms' corporate social responsibility (CSR) is growing. However, little is known about the influence of a CEO's childhood experience of natural disasters on CSR. Using archival data, we explore this relationship by offering three mechanisms that may account for how the CEO's childhood experience of natural disaster is related to their CSR. More specifically, while prior research has established a positive relationship based on the post-traumatic growth theory, we show that the dual mechanisms of prosocial values and a CEO's risk aversion explain the positive relationship. We further find that the positive relationship is stronger (1) when CEOs have longer career horizons and (2) when community social capital is high. This study contributes to both research and managerial implications on the topics of CEO's childhood experience and CSR. In particular, this study advances the upper echelon theory by revealing that a CEO's childhood experience of natural disaster is a useful yet relatively underexplored variable that can help explain the substantial variations in firms' CSR. Moreover, we emphasize that a CEO's career horizons and level of community social capital are important variables that further amplify the effect of a CEO's childhood experience of natural disaster on the firm's CSR commitment.

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status and Women's Mental Health: A Longitudinal Study of Hurricane Katrina Survivors, 2005-2015

There is limited knowledge on the relationship between neighborhood factors and mental health among displaced disaster survivors, particularly among women. Hurricane Katrina (Katrina) was the largest internal displacement in the United States (U.S.), which presented itself as a natural experiment. We examined the association between neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and mental health among women up to 10 years following Katrina (N = 394). We also investigated whether this association was modified by move status, comparing women who were permanently displaced to those who had returned to their pre-Katrina residence. We used hierarchical linear models to measure this association, using data from the American Community Survey and the Gulf Coast Child and Family Health study. Neighborhood SES was created as an index which represented social and economic characteristics of participants' neighborhoods. Mental health was measured using mental component summary (MCS) scores. Increased neighborhood SES was positively associated with mental health after controlling for age, race/ethnicity, economic positioning, time, and move status (19.6, 95% Confidence Interval: 5.8, 33.7). Neighborhood SES and mental health was also modified by move status. These findings underscore the need to better understand the impacts of socioeconomic conditions and health outcomes among women affected by natural disasters.

Coping Strategies and Psychological Maladjustment/Adjustment: A Meta-Analytic Approach with Children and Adolescents Exposed to Natural Disasters

Background

Following disasters, children and adolescents can use coping strategies to feel better. A growing body of studies investigated the relation between them and maladjustment/adjustment, i.e., negative symptomatology/positive indicators of development. Yet, these constructs are studied separately.

Objective

We conducted two meta-analyses to examine the mean correlation between disaster-related coping strategies and indicators of maladjustment/adjustment following natural disasters in children and adolescents, considering the role of some moderators.

Methods

We used PsycINFO, PubMed, Eric, and Scopus databases to identify articles on natural disasters (filters: participants ≤ 18 years at the disaster, peer-review, English language). Inclusion required investigating the relation between at least one coping strategy and at least one indicator of maladjustment (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder, depression) and/or adjustment (e.g., self-efficacy, emotion understanding), for a total of 26 studies (k = 64, n = 9692, for maladjustment; k = 37, n = 3504, for adjustment).

Results

There were global positive significant correlations between coping strategies and negative symptomatology (r _pooled  = .23) for maladjustment, and positive indicators (r _pooled  = .17) for adjustment. Negative symptomatology positively correlated with escape (r = .19), social isolation (r = .15), submission (r = .64), and opposition (r = .16); positive indicators positively correlated with problem solving (r = .31), social support (r = .22), and submission (r = .30). We found a moderating role of age, disaster type, and continent for maladjustment.

Conclusions

The study presented an analysis of the coping strategies that can be effective for children and adolescents dealing with natural disasters.

Traumatic experiences of the Great East Japan Earthquake and postpartum depressive symptoms: The Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Natural disasters can have serious mental health consequences. We aimed to examine the long-term effects of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) on postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS).

METHODS

The Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study recruited pregnant women in Miyagi Prefecture from 2013 to 2016. Data from 11,403 participants were used in this study. Women were asked about their traumatic experiences of the GEJE with questions addressing threat, witness, and loss. PDS were defined as Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score ≥9 at 1 month after delivery. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations of different traumatic experiences of the GEJE and number of traumatic experiences with PDS, after adjustment for age, parity, feelings toward pregnancy, education, income, social isolation, house damage caused by the GEJE, and survey year.

RESULTS

About two-fifths of women had at least one traumatic experience of the GEJE. The prevalence of PDS at 1 month after delivery was 13.3 %. Life-threatening experience and witnessing another person's actual or threatened death were associated with PDS: the odds ratios (ORs) were 1.40 (95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.24-1.59) and 1.28 (95 % CI, 1.08-1.53), respectively. Loss of close person was not associated with PDS: the OR was 1.13 (95 % CI, 0.99-1.30). Larger number of traumatic experiences of the GEJE was associated with increased risk of PDS (p for trend <0.001).

LIMITATIONS

PDS was self-reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Traumatic experiences of the GEJE prior to pregnancy were associated with increased risks of PDS.

PTSD and depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents exposed to multiple stressors from natural disasters, stressful life events, and maltreatment: A dose-response effect

Objectives

Little is known about the effects and the extent that childhood adversity has on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.

Study design

A population-based, epidemiological study from the Wenchuan earthquake.

Methods

A total of 5,195 Wenchuan Earthquake adolescent survivors aged 11-18 years from nine high schools in southwest China completed questionnaires that assessed their PTSD and depression symptoms due to childhood maltreatment, stressful life events, and childhood earthquake exposure.

Results

The PTSD and depression prevalences were 7.1 and 32.4%. After controlling for age and gender, the multiple linear regressions revealed that stressful life events had the most significant direct effect on depression (β = 0.491), followed by childhood emotional abuse (β = 0.085), and earthquake exposure (β = 0.077). Similarly, stressful life events (β = 0.583) were found to have more significant direct effects on PSTD, followed by earthquake exposure (β = 0.140); however, childhood emotional abuse was not found to have an effect. The structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that there were interactions between the three childhood adversities, with all three concurrently affecting both PTSD and depression.

Conclusion

These findings add weight to the supposition that psychological maltreatment, negative life events, and earthquake exposure contribute to PTSD and depression. In particular, the identification of subgroups that have a high prevalence of these childhood adversities could assist professionals to target populations that are at high risk of mental health problems.

Evaluating Community Resilience and Associated Factors One Year after the Catastrophic Fort McMurray Flood

BACKGROUND

Resilience after natural disasters is becoming an increasingly key area of research. In April 2020, parts of Fort McMurray were affected by severe floods. The flooding caused the loss of properties, evacuation of some residents, and effects on their mental health.

OBJECTIVE

This study explores the prevalence and associated factors between flood experience and low resilience a year after the 2020 floods in Fort McMurray.

METHOD

Data collection was accomplished one year after the flood, from 24 April to 2 June 2021, using an online survey. The data were analyzed with SPSS version 25 using univariate analysis with the chi-squared test and binary logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The prevalence of low resilience was 37.4%. Respondents under 25 years were nearly 26 times more likely to show low resilience (OR = 0.038; 95% CI 0.004-0.384) than respondents 40 years and above. Responders with a history of depression (OR = 0.258 95% CI: 0.089-0.744) and a history of anxiety (OR = 0.212; CI 95% 0.068-0.661) were nearly four to five times more likely to show low resilience than those without a history. Similarly, respondents willing to receive mental health counselling (OR = 0.134 95% CI: 0.047-0.378) were 7.5 times more likely to show low resilience. Participants residing in the same house before the flood were almost 11 times more likely to show low resilience (OR = 0.095; 95% CI 0.021-0.427) than those who relocated. Participants who received support from the Government of Alberta were less likely to express low resilience than those who received no or limited support (OR = 208.343; 95% CI 3.284-13,218.663).

CONCLUSION

The study showed a low resilience rate among respondents following the 2020 flooding in Fort McMurray. Factors contributing to low resilience include age, history of depression or anxiety, and place of residence after the flood. After the flood, receiving support from the government was shown to be a protective factor. Further studies are needed to explore robust risk factors of low resilience and measures to promote normal to high resilience among flood victims in affected communities.

Group memberships and post-traumatic growth: How we connect determines how we recover

This paper examines key processes from the social identity model of traumatic identity change in the context of the aftermath of a natural disaster. It focuses on the roles of (i) group membership gain, (ii) group membership continuity, (iii) social identity revitalisation, and (iv) the severity of natural disaster exposure on post-traumatic growth (PTG) and post-traumatic stress (PTS). PARTICIPANTS: (N = 410, M_age = 53.24 years) comprised adult survivors of the Australian 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, recruited to complete an online survey via geo-targeted Facebook advertisements. RESULTS: showed that group membership gain was positively correlated with PTG, whilst group membership continuity negatively correlated with PTS, highlighting the different roles played by group gain and continuity in post-trauma recovery. Preliminary evidence for the validity of a new author-developed social identity revitalisation measure was found, which mediated some relationships between group gain and continuity and PTG and PTS. Lastly, the extent that participants were affected by the fires moderated the relationship between group gain and PTS. Specifically, for those most affected, group gain was correlated with lower reported PTS, whilst for those less affected, group gain was correlated with higher reported PTS. We discuss implications for theory and draw attention to the concept of revitalisation, which shows promise as a potentially critical contributor to post-trauma recovery.

Psychological health, wellbeing and COVID-19: Comparing previously infected and non-infected South African employees

Most COVID-19 and work-related well-being research is centred around the adverse effects on employees' psychological well-being and is not focused on the work-related well-being of those infected by SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, COVID-19 and work-related well-being research is generally aimed at healthcare workers. The current study focused on investigating the difference in the level of burnout, anxiety, depression and stress between previously infected and uninfected participants. This study used a cross-sectional survey design and non-probability quota sampling to collect data. A retrospective pre-post design was used to determine the difference between the level of burnout of the participants before and after infection. Working adults in South Africa were targeted and divided into those previously infected (n = 245) and those not yet infected with COVID-19 (n = 221). Participants completed questionnaires relating to burnout, depression, anxiety, and stress. A comparison of means revealed a significant increase in burnout after being infected. Infected participants had significantly higher burnout, anxiety, depression, and stress levels than their non-infected counterparts. Emotional exhaustion, withdrawal, and stress were the most prevalent psychological ill-health problems. The results of this study indicated that a SARS-CoV-2 infection has a detrimental impact on participants' psychological well-being and mental health compared to their own initially reported levels of burnout before infection, as well as compared to the levels of burnout, depression, anxiety and depression of the non-infected participants. Based on the findings, specific recommendations to industrial psychologists were made to manage the psychological impact of COVID-19 on employees.

Effects of COVID-19 on sensory and cognitive perception of mild and severe diagnosed and recovered patients versus healthy consumers

The objective of this research was to analyze the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on the sensory and cognitive perception of mild and severe COVID-19 diagnosed and recovered consumers versus healthy consumers. Three groups of 50 consumers each (healthy vs. mild and severe COVID-19 diagnosed with 30 days after recovery) were used for the evaluation of instant coffee stimuli in concentrations: 4.40, 2.93, 2.20, 1.76, and 1.47% weight (w)/volume (v) and determine their discriminating power, emotions, and memories. Sensory tests were performed remotely. Results indicated that healthy consumers perceived higher intensities in most of the sensory attributes (with the exception of Burnt-A, Bitter-T, Acid-T, and Astringent-T attributes) compared to consumers who presented mild and severe COVID-19. Therefore, consumers diagnosed with mild and severe COVID-19 had a higher discrimination power in the attributes smell, basic tastes, and flavor. Healthy consumers could only discriminate two attributes that correspond to basic flavors. Consumers with mild and severe COVID-19 diagnosis elicited the highest number of negatives emotions (such as bored, disgusted, worried, guilty, wild, and aggressive) and negative memories (disease, pain, death, hurt, obesity, conflict personal, addiction, stench poverty, and accident) than healthy consumers. It is concluded that there were no significant differences between the consumer panels for the identification of sensory attributes. However, P-Healthy consumers perceived the highest intensities in most sensory attributes compared to those in the PCOVID19-Mild and PCOVID19-Severe panels. Finally, consumers diagnosed with mild or severe COVID-19 used a higher number of emotions and memories than those of the healthy panel.

Practical applications

Investigating the effects of COVID-19 on sensory and cognitive perception can be useful for industry and researchers in the sensory field who wish to understand the effects of the disease in order to generate new protocols for the selection and training of people, as well as the possible development and innovation of new products focused on perception of consumers recovered from COVID-19.

The Impact of Death Anxiety, Meaning and Coping on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Psychiatric Co-Morbidity Among Iraqi Civilians Exposed to a Car Bomb Attack A Latent Class Analysis

Much has been documented that the experience of a bombing is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder and psychiatric co-morbidity. Whether the co-existing relationship between death anxiety, meaning in life and coping styles would influence the aforementioned association is unknown. The present study aimed to identify latent classes of victims with different levels of death anxiety, meaning in life and coping styles, and to examine whether the severity of PTSD and co-morbid psychiatric symptoms differed between classes. One hundred and eighty-five victims who had experienced the first car bombing completed a demographic page, the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnosis Scale, General Health Questionnaire-28, Multidimensional Fear of Death Scale, Meaning in Life Questionnaire and Coping Responses Inventory. The results showed that 82% and 18% of the victims met the criteria for PTSD and no-PTSD, respectively. Four classes of victims were identified: Class 1 victims were approach copers with low levels of death anxiety and meaning. Class 2 victims were minimal copers with high levels of death anxiety and meaning. Class 3 victims were approach copers with a high level of death anxiety and meaning. Class 4 victims were avoidance copers with high levels of death anxiety. Individuals in Class 1 reported significantly lower levels of PTSD and psychiatric co-morbidity than the other three classes. Class 3 victims also reported significantly lower levels of psychiatric co-morbidity than Class 2 victims. To conclude, victims exposed to a car bombing were likely to exhibit posttraumatic stress symptoms in addition to other psychological symptoms. The severity of these symptoms tended to be lower among those who had little fear of death, did not search for meaning in life and approached their distress proactively.

The Emergency of Prosociality: A Developmental Perspective on Altruism and Other Prosocial Behavior in the Face of Disaster

No two emergency situations are alike. A combination of human and contextual factors makes each emergency and disaster unique in its time line, its aftermath, and especially its impact on affected populations. In all of these situations, however, people engage in prosocial behavior that benefits others. We provide an overview of altruistic and other prosocial behavior in typical human development and of developmental distinctions between helping, sharing, and comforting. We focus on the expression of these behaviors in emergency situations, using the COVID-19 pandemic to illustrate how prosociality shifts and adapts in a specific context. Finally, we suggest that a developmental framework may help researchers and professionals in the field achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the many facets and underlying mechanisms of prosociality in emergency contexts.

Child Mental Health and Sleep Disturbances During the Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

Many children have experienced unprecedented levels of stress as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic due to school closures, strained resources, and excess morbidity and mortality. The current study examines change in children's mental health and sleep during the early months of the US pandemic and identifies risk and protective factors. In May 2020, a total of 225 parents reported on the mental health and sleep of each child (N = 392 children) living in their household prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and about their functioning in the past month. McNemar's test examined change in mental health and sleep disturbance across developmental stage. Bivariate and multivariate generalized estimating equations examined predictors of change in mental health and sleep. Each age group showed a significant change in mental health and sleep outcomes, but the development of mental health problems was greater for older children. Parental caregiving strain (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-5.27) was identified as a risk factor associated with children developing anxiety, and income loss was associated with developing sleep disturbances (aOR = 2.34; 95% CI, 1.06-5.17). Parental receipt of emotional support was identified as a protective factor for all child health outcomes. Policies and interventions that promote access to mental health services, provide financial safety nets, and strengthen social support networks for families are needed.

Priming close social contact protective behaviors enhances protective social norms perceptions, protection views, and self-protective behaviors during disasters

Many people do not make choices that minimize risk in the face of health and environmental threats. Using pre-registered analyses, we tested whether a risk communication that primed perceptions about health-protective preparation and behavior of close social contacts promoted protection views and protective behaviors. From December 10-24, 2020, we fielded a 2 (threat vignette: wildfire or COVID-19) x 3 (social contact prime: control, inaction, or action) experiment to a representative sample of 1,108 California residents facing increased COVID-19 cases/deaths, who had recently experienced the most destructive wildfire season in California history. Outcome variables were protection views and protective behavior (i.e., information seeking). Across threat conditions, stronger social norms, efficacy, and worry predicted greater protection views and some protective behaviors. Priming social-contact action resulted in greater COVID-19 information-seeking compared to the control. In the wildfire smoke condition, priming social contact action and inaction increased perceived protective behavior social norms compared to the control; social norms partially mediated the relationships of priming with protection views and protective behaviors; and having existing mask supplies enhanced the relationship between priming inaction and greater protection views compared to priming action or the control. Findings highlight the importance of social influence for health protection views and protective behaviors. Communications enhancing social norms that are sensitive to resource contexts may help promote protective behaviors.

Variation in Public Trust, Perceived Societal Fairness, and Well-Being before and after COVID-19 Onset-Evidence from the China Family Panel Studies

The sudden onset of the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on all aspects of people's lives, including their attitudes toward society and psychological well-being. This study aimed to analyze the variation in public trust, perceived societal fairness, and well-being before and after the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study used two-wave longitudinal data of 15,487 residents (2018, T1; 2020, T2) derived from the Chinese Family Panel Studies (CFPS). A repeated measures analysis of variance showed that (a) public trust, perceived societal fairness, and subjective well-being significantly improved and (b) depression significantly increased. Linear regression analysis showed that education and socioeconomic status had a significant predictive effect on public trust, perceived societal fairness, and depression; socioeconomic status had a significant predictive effect on subjective well-being. This study provides evidence and direction for current social governance, namely, policy implementation and pandemic response.

Long term mental health trajectories after disasters and pandemics: A multilingual systematic review of prevalence, risk and protective factors

The patterns of long-term psychological response after disasters and pandemics remain unclear. We aimed to determine the trajectories for post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), depression and anxiety prevalence following disasters and pandemic exposure; and identify associated risk and protective factors. A systematic review of the English, Chinese, and Japanese longitudinal mental health literature was conducted. We searched Cochrane, MEDLINE, ProQuest, PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL (English), CNKI and SINOMED (Chinese) and CiNii (Japanese) for studies published between January 2000 and May 2022. Following a pre-specified protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42020206424), conditional linear growth curve models and ANOVA analyses were conducted. The search identified 77,891 papers, with a final sample of 234: 206 English, 24 Chinese, and 4 Japanese-language papers. PTSS rates improved for all ages (p = .018, eta² = 0.035). In contrast, depression and anxiety prevalence remained elevated for years following exposure (p = .424, eta² = 0.019 and p = .051, eta² = 0.064, respectively), with significantly higher rates for children and adolescents (p < .005, eta² > 0.056). Earthquakes and pandemics were associated with higher prevalence of PTSS (p < .019, eta² > 0.019). Multi-level risk and protective factors were identified. The chronicity of mental health outcomes highlights a critical need for tailored, sustainable mental health services, particularly for children and adolescents, in disaster- and pandemic-affected settings.

Multi-layer relationships between psychological symptoms and life adaptation among humidifier disinfectant survivors

In April 2011, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the results of an epidemiological investigation that an unknown cause of lung disease that occurred throughout Korea was caused by humidifier disinfectants. The unprecedented social catastrophe caused by humidifier disinfectants, a household chemical, has so far reported 1,784 deaths and 5,984 survivors in South Korea. This study was designed to investigate the multi-layer relationships between psychological symptoms and adaptive functioning in survivors of the Humidifier disinfectants in South Korea caused by chemical toxic substances. Specifically, this study aimed to explore how psychological symptoms affect actual interpersonal relationships and job adjustment with two variable sets, six internalizing and externalizing subscales, and three adaptation subscales. A total of 224 survivors recruited from a program to support humidifier disinfectant survivors by the government participated in this study. This research was approved by the Institutional Review Board of one of the Universities in South Korea. The age range of the participants was 18–73 years (M = 42.23, SD = 10.90), 37.1% (n = 83) were male, and 62.9% (n = 141) were female. The participants responded to the Adult Self-Report (ASR) of the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA). A Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) generated three unique patterns in the relationships between psychological symptoms and adaptive functions. Humidifier disinfectant survivors in the first pattern were more vulnerable to psychological symptoms and showed maladaptive functioning in life. Survivors in the second pattern showed intrusive behaviors and appeared to be adaptive in relationships with friends. Finally, survivors in the third pattern showed aggressive behaviors and reported poor partner relationships while showing good relationships with friends. The practical implications of the interventions are also discussed.

Flood disasters and health among the urban poor

Billions of people live in urban poverty, with many forced to reside in disaster-prone areas. Research suggests that such disasters harm child nutrition and increase adult morbidity. However, little is known about impacts on mental health, particularly of people living in slums. In this paper we estimate the effects of flood disasters on the mental and physical health of poor adults and children in urban Indonesia. Our data come from the Indonesia Family Life Survey and new surveys of informal settlement residents. We find that urban poor populations experience increases in acute morbidities and depressive symptoms following floods, that the negative mental health effects last longer, and that the urban wealthy show no health effects from flood exposure. Further analysis suggests that worse economic outcomes may be partly responsible. Overall, the results provide a more nuanced understanding of the morbidities experienced by populations most vulnerable to increased disaster occurrence.

Assessing short-term and long-term mental health effects among older adults after Hurricane Sandy

BACKGROUND

Few studies have evaluated the long-term effects of disasters on older adults. We examined if older individuals experienced increased mental health (MH) effects immediately and long-term after Hurricane Sandy and if these effects varied by socioeconomic status (SES), disease subtypes, number of comorbidities, and length of stay.

METHODS

We identified older patients (≥64 years) with hospital admissions and Emergency Department (ED) visits (2001-2015) with primary diagnosis of MH diseases using the New York State discharged data. We quantified both short-term (immediately post-Sandy) and long-term effects (3-month, 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year) following Hurricane Sandy, and used the pre-Sandy period in the affected counties as the control period. Poisson regression was used to compare daily counts of MH cases overall and by multiple strata pre-/post Sandy.

FINDINGS

Older individuals had significantly increased risk of MH ED visits immediately (32%), and 3-months, 1, 2, and 3-years after Sandy (2%, 9%, 15%, and 10%, respectively). MH hospital admissions did not increase immediately, but significantly increased by 8% a year later. Males and those with low SES had delayed, but increased risks of MH 1-3 years after Sandy (RRs range: 1.14-1.71). The top MH subtypes after Sandy were psychosis, mood disorders, substance abuse, suicide, and anxiety (RRs range: 1.12-2.62). After Sandy, patients with ≥8 comorbidities increased from 15% to >25%, along with their length of hospital stay.

CONCLUSION

We found long-term adverse effects of MH after Sandy, especially among vulnerable populations, which may help plan future disaster preparedness and recovery efforts.

Mental health effects of the Gangwon wildfires

Background

The April 2019 wildfires in Gangwon Province, South Korea forced the evacuation of 1500 individuals and cost more than $100 million in damages, making it the worst wildfire disaster in Korean history. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the mental health effects on survivors following the wildfires.

Methods

Between April and May 2019, outreach psychological support services were delivered to people impacted by the wildfires. Post-disaster psychological responses using a checklist and the Clinical Global Impression Scale-Severity (CGI-S) were evaluated for 206 wildfires survivors. The CGI-S was administered consequently at 1, 3, and 6 months after baseline measurement.

Results

Among four response categories, somatic responses (76.2%) were most frequently observed among the wildfire survivors. Specifically, insomnia (59.2%), anxiety (50%), chest tightness (34%), grief (33%), flashbacks (33%), and depression (32.5%) were reported by over 30% of the participants. The mean CGI-S scores were significantly decreased at 1 month (mean score = 1.94; SE = 0.09) compared to baseline (mean score = 2.94; SE = 0.08) and remained at the decreased level until 6 months (mean score = 1.66; SE = 0.11). However, participants with flashbacks showed significantly higher CGI-S scores compared to those without flashback at 6 months.

Conclusions

Wildfire survivors have various post-disaster responses, especially somatic responses. While most participants’ mental health improved over time, a few of them may have experienced prolonged psychological distress after 6 months. Flashbacks were particularly associated with continuing distress. These results suggest that the characteristics of responses should be considered in early phase intervention and in follow-up plans for disaster survivors.

COVID-19 Pandemisi Sırasında Türk Toplumunun Ruh Sağlığı

Giriş: Yeni koronavirüs hastalığı (COVID-1 tüm dünyaya hızla yayılarak tüm dünyada olduğu gibi Türkiye'de de çok sayıda ölüme neden olmuştur. COVID-19 potansiyel olarak öldürücüdür ve insanların ruh sağlığını etkiler. Potansiyel psikolojik sorunları tespit etmek önemlidir. Türkiye'de COVID-19 sürecinde toplumun kaygı düzeylerini ve ilişkili risk faktörlerini belirlemeyi amaçladık. Yöntemler: Bu, pandemi sırasında Türkiye genelinde gerçekleştirilen kesitsel bir çalışmadır. Anketler katılımcılara Google Formlar aracılığıyla ulaştırılmıştır. Anket ilk olarak 15 Nisan 2020 tarihinde yayınlanmış ve 30 günlük bir süre boyunca veriler toplanmıştır. Bulgular: Türk toplumu tarafından doldurulan 8.917 anket formu çalışmaya dahil edildi. Yaşlılarda, kadınlarda, anne-babalarda, sigara içenlerde, ek hastalığı olanlarda, sosyal medya kullananlarda ve eğitim düzeyi yüksek olanlarda kaygı düzeyi ve ölüm korkusu daha yüksekti. Sonuç: Bu çalışma, katılımcı sayısı açısından Türkiye'de yapılmış en kapsamlı çalışma olup, Türk toplumunun pandemi sürecindeki ruhsal durumuna ışık tutmaktadır. Türkiye'de COVID-19'un nüfusun ruh sağlığını olumsuz yönde etkilediği, kaygı düzeylerini ve ölüm korkusunu artırdığı belirlendi. Kaygı düzeyi ve ölüm korkusu yüksek olan kişiler belirlenmeli ve bu kişilere psikolojik destek sağlanmalıdır.

PTSD and Depression 8 Years After the 2004 Tsunami in Sri Lanka

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate prevalence and risk factors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression among directly exposed (DE) and indirectly or nonexposed (INE) populations in Sri Lanka 8 y after the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004.

METHODS

Population-based structured survey study was conducted among Sri Lankan adults living in 5 coastal districts, Hamboantha, Matara, Galle, Kalutara, and Colombo in 2012-2013. A total of 430 individuals, 325 in DE, 105 in INE, participated in the survey. DE and INE groups were compared for demographics and outcomes. Bivariate and multiple logistic regressions with backward selection were used to identify risk factors for partial PTSD and depression.

RESULTS

The prevalence of PTSD, partial PTSD and depression were 2.8%, 10.5%, and 18.8% in DE group, respectively. In multivariable analyses tsunami exposure, female gender, subjective physical health before the tsunami, previous trauma, and depression were significantly associated with partial PTSD. Female gender, high frequency of religious activity, previous trauma, social support, and PTSD were significantly associated with depression.

CONCLUSIONS

The psychological impacts of the tsunami did wane over time, but still present at lower rate even in 8 y. It is important to address these lingering sequelae and expand access to at risk individuals.

A Qualitative Scoping Review of the Impacts of Economic Recessions on Mental Health: Implications for Practice and Policy

In a follow-up to our 2021 scoping review of the quantitative literature on the impacts of economic recessions on mental health, this scoping review summarizes qualitative research to develop a descriptive understanding of the key factors that transmute the socioeconomic stressors of a recession into poorer mental health. The previous study identified 22 qualitative studies from 2008 to 2020, which were updated with search results from six databases for articles published between 2020 and 2021. After inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to the total 335 identified studies, 13 articles were included. These were peer-reviewed, qualitative studies in developed economies, published from 2008 to 2021, and available online in English. Participants perceived that financial hardship and unemployment during recessions increased stress and led to feelings of shame, loss of structure and identity, and a perceived lack of control, which increased interpersonal conflict, social isolation, maladaptive coping, depression, self-harm, and suicidal behavior. Participants struggled with accessing health and social services and suggested reforms to improve the navigation and efficiency of services and to reduce the perceived harms of austerity measures. Providers should screen for mental distress and familiarize themselves with health and social resources in their community to help patients navigate these complex systems. Policy makers should be aware of the potential protective nature of unemployment safeguards and consider other low-cost measures to bolster mental health supports and informal social networks. Research in this area was limited. Further research would be beneficial given the impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 recession.

The Impact of COVID-19 Incidence on Motivation to Participate in a Triathlon

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many changes that have influenced the lives of people around the world and have left their mark in the world of sports, as well. Numerous restrictions resulted in the cancellation of the organization of many sports events, and the players themselves had restricted access to training. The main goal of the study was to identify the motivation to participate in a triathlon between athletes who have undergone COVID-19, those who have never been infected and those who do not know if they have ever caught the virus and to evaluate the differences between them. The assessment of the motives for participating in a sports event was conducted according to four types of orientation: social, experience, factual and results to check what benefits for well-being and self-improvement are brought about by participation in a triathlon as a mass sports event. The desire to feel unity, to develop passion, to integrate with other people and to get away from everyday life were the most important motives for those who have never been infected. It turns out that 100% of the respondents who had a history of COVID-19 disease indicated the desire to prove themselves. The desire to maintain good physical condition and health was reported by the majority of researched people, but again, all respondents (100%) who had been infected with COVID-19 indicated these motives as the most important.

Long-Term Impact of Hurricane Sandy Exposure on Positive and Negative Affect: The Role of Perceived Social Support

OBJECTIVES

Natural disasters can have devastating, long-lasting effects on the mental health of older adults. However, few studies have examined associations among disaster exposure and positive and negative affect, and no longitudinal studies have investigated the extent to which pre-disaster perceived social support affects these associations. These analyses examine the associations among pre-disaster perceived social support, disaster exposure, and positive and negative affect experienced by community-dwelling older adults four years after Hurricane Sandy, controlling for pre-disaster affect.

METHODS

Self-reported data collected before and after Hurricane Sandy from participants (aged 50-74 years) in the ORANJ BOWL panel (N=2442) were analyzed using linear regression models.

RESULTS

Higher levels of peri-traumatic stress experienced during Hurricane Sandy and greater hardship experienced after the storm were associated with more negative affect four years following the disaster. Higher perceived social support at baseline was related to more positive affect and less negative affect both before and after the hurricane. Social support did not moderate the effect of hurricane exposure on either positive or negative affect.

DISCUSSION

Findings suggest that psychological effects may persist years after natural disasters and that more effective interventions may be needed during and after a disaster. While social support is critical to positive and negative affect in general, its buffering effects when disaster strikes may be limited.