Depression, Mental Distress, and Domestic Conflict among Louisiana Women Exposed to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the WaTCH Study

Abstract

Background:Psychological sequelae are among the most pronounced effects in populations following exposure to oil spills. Women in particular represent a vulnerable yet influential population but have remained relatively understudied with respect to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DHOS).Objective:To describe the relationship between oil spill exposure and mental health among women living in the southern coastal Louisiana parishes affected by the DHOS.Methods:The Women and Their Children’s Health Study administered telephone interviews to a population-based sample of 2,842 women between 2012 and 2014 following the DHOS. Participants were asked about depression, mental distress, domestic conflict, and exposure to the oil spill.Results:Over 28% of the sample reported symptoms of depression, 13% reported severe mental distress, 16% reported an increase in the number of fights with their partners, and 11% reported an increase in the intensity of partner fights. Both economic and physical exposure were significantly associated with depressive symptoms and domestic conflict, whereas only physical exposure was related to mental distress.Conclusions:This large, population-based study of women in southern coastal Louisiana, a particularly disaster-prone area of the country, revealed high rates of poor mental health outcomes. Reported exposure to the DHOS was a significant predictor of these outcomes, suggesting avenues for future disaster mitigation through the provision of mental health services.Citation:Rung AL, Gaston S, Oral E, Robinson WT, Fontham E, Harrington DJ, Trapido E, Peters ES. 2016. Depression, mental distress, and domestic conflict among Louisiana women exposed to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the WaTCH Study. Environ Health Perspect 124:1429–1435; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP167

Untangling the disaster-depression knot: The role of social ties after Deepwater Horizon

“…1,2 The Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which occurred in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana, is now considered the largest accidental marine oil spill in history. Spilling 200 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico and covering 68,000 square miles of land and sea, this technological disaster has been linked to deleterious mental health effects, 2-5 echoing similar findings from earlier oil spills. 6-9 A conceptual framework for understanding how oil spills can result in poor mental health outcomes has been proposed as a result of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill.…”

Mental health indicators associated with oil spill response and clean-up: cross-sectional analysis of the GuLF STUDY cohort

“…16 However, there was substantial variability in post-spill mental health, with residents who experienced higher levels of physical exposure to oil during the oil spill or experiencing large financial impact at greater risk of adverse outcomes. 12 Individuals who participated in oil spill response and clean-up (OSRC) activities are a potentially high risk group. 17 These workers repeatedly witnessed the vast effects of the DHOS on the environment and had direct contact with hazardous chemicals typically found in oil, chemical dispersants, and cleaning solutions such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, 2-butoxyethanol, and propylene glycol, increasing risk for adverse health conditions (e.g., respiratory conditions, headaches) 6,7 that, in turn, could be associated with poor mental health.…”

The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Through the Lens of Human Health and the Ecosystem

“…Oil-spill distress was associated with negative behavioral outcomes, e.g. domestic conflict [31]. Additionally, exposure was associated with psychosocial effects and domestic conflict among partners of oil spill clean-up workers [32].…”