Individual-level exposure to disaster, neighborhood environmental characteristics, and their independent and combined associations with depressive symptoms in women

Abstract

Purpose The severity of the stress response to experiencing disaster depends on individual exposure and background stress prior to the event. To date, there is limited research on the interaction between neighborhood environmental stress and experiencing an oil spill, and their effects on depression. The objective of the current study was to assess if the association between exposure to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (DHOS) and depressive symptoms varied by neighborhood characteristics. Methods U.S. Census data (2010) and longitudinal data collected in two waves (2012–2014 and 2014–2016) from female residents (N = 889 (Wave I), 737 (Wave II)) of an area highly affected by the DHOS were analyzed. Multilevel and individual-level negative binomial regressions were performed to estimate associations with depressive symptoms in both waves. An interaction term was included to estimate effect modification of the association between DHOS exposure and depressive symptoms by neighborhood characteristics. Generalized estimating equations were applied to the negative binomial regression testing longitudinal associations. Results Census tract-level neighborhood characteristics were not associated with depressive symptoms. Exposure to the DHOS and neighborhood physical disorder were associated with depressive symptoms cross-sectionally. There was no evidence of effect modification; however, physical/environmental exposure to the DHOS was associated with increased depressive symptoms only among women living in areas with physical disorder. Exposure to the DHOS remained associated with depressive symptoms over time. Conclusions Findings support the enduring consequences of disaster exposure on depressive symptoms in women and identify potential targets for post-disaster intervention based on residential characteristics.

PTSD symptom profiles among Louisiana women affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: A latent profile analysis

“…Previous investigations from this sample suggested that increased oil spill exposure (physical and economic) was significantly associated with depression symptoms over time (S. A. Gaston et al, 2017;Rung et al, 2016;Rung et al, 2018). This pattern of findings is consistent with a rich literature suggesting that PTSD and depressed mood frequently co-occur and have shared risk factors (Campbell et al, 2007;Goldstein et al, 2016;Spinhoven, Penninx, van Hemert, de Rooij, & Elzinga, 2014;Wisco et al, 2016).…”

Depression among Black Youth; Interaction of Class and Place

“…SES aspects of the neighborhood, racial composition, physical and social environment, and segregation are all neighborhood and contextual factors that have mental health implications [ 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 ]. Ethnic density is one of the major factors that shapes PRD and depression for minorities including Blacks [ 49 , 54 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 ].…”

Human Health and Socioeconomic Effects of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico

“…However, results across a range of other, more targeted studies indicate increased reports from individuals of symptoms consistent with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress (Grattan et al, 2011;H.J. Osofsky et al, , 2015Buttke et al, 2012a,b;Gill et al 2012Gill et al , 2014Morris et al, 2013;Drescher et al, 2014;Cherry et al, 2015;Fan et al, 2015;Aiena et al, 2016;Rung et al, 2016, Gaston et al, 2017Kwok et al, 2017b). Substantial portions of coastal households (e.g., nearly 38% of an Alabama sample; Ritchie et al, 2018) were involved directly or indirectly in DWH-related claims, settlements, or litigation activity.…”