Aging and Emotional Well-Being After Disasters: Vulnerability and Resilience

Abstract

Background and Objectives Climate change threatens well-being and has increased the prevalence of weather-related disasters. We investigated age differences in emotional well-being among adults who had experienced hurricane-related, unavoidable stressors. Socioemotional selectivity theory (SST, Carstensen, 2006) posits that age-related motivational shifts buffer older adults against psychological distress, whereas the strength and vulnerability integration model (SAVI, Charles, 2010) posits that unavoidable stressors are more detrimental to older adults’ well-being compared to younger adults. Research Design and Methods We used existing self-report data from a life-span sample of adults (N=618, M age= 58.44 years, SD=16.03, 18-96 years) who resided in the US Gulf Coast region. The sample was recruited in 2016 to examine sequelae of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and contacted again after the 2017 and 2018 hurricane seasons. In 2016, participants reported their depression, anxiety, and trauma history. After the 2017-2018 hurricane seasons, participants reported their depression, post-traumatic stress, exposure to hurricane-related adversities, injuries, and casualties, self-efficacy, and perceived health. Results In line with SST, older age was associated with reporting significantly fewer depression and PTSD symptoms, even after controlling for exposure to hurricane-related adversities, injuries and casualties, health, self-efficacy, and pre-hurricane depression, anxiety, and trauma. The association between older age and fewer depression symptoms was stronger among those who experienced hurricane-related adversities compared to those who had not, in contrast to predictions based on SAVI. Discussion and Implications We discuss the implications of age-related strengths in emotional well-being for policy and practice in the context of the ongoing climate crisis.

Uncovering the Impact of Disasters on the Health and Wellbeing of Older Adults: Insights from Longitudinal Ageing Study in India

“…The ndings resonate with existing research that highlights the psychological toll of disasters on older adults, particularly in the wake of natural events (43,44). The association between psychological trauma, dissatisfaction with life, and moderate self-rated health is a salient nding that aligns with the psychosocial dimensions of disaster aftermath described in the previous literatures (27,35,(44)(45)(46). Whereas, higher prevalence of physical disabilities highlights the association between di culties in ADL and IADL and physical disabilities due to man-made disasters accentuates the vulnerability of those with preexisting limitations, consistent with research emphasizing the heightened risk faced by older adults with functional impairments in disaster scenarios (7,30,47).…”

“…Whereas, higher prevalence of physical disabilities highlights the association between di culties in ADL and IADL and physical disabilities due to man-made disasters accentuates the vulnerability of those with preexisting limitations, consistent with research emphasizing the heightened risk faced by older adults with functional impairments in disaster scenarios (7,30,47). On the other hand, the prominence of psychological trauma among female respondents in the central region points to potential gender-speci c vulnerabilities that resonate with studies emphasizing gender disparities in disaster impact (27,45,46,48).…”

“…(26). However, it is important to note that older adults with greater self-e cacy for coping with disaster effects reported fewer depression and PTSD symptoms (27).…”