Long-Term Mental Health Among Low-Income, Minority Women Following Exposure to Multiple Natural Disasters in Early and Late Adolescence Compared to Adulthood

Abstract

Background High impact experiences following a natural disaster have been shown to influence later psychopathology. Individual-level factors such as age may also contribute to a disaster’s impact on mental health, though it is unclear whether young age confers a protective effect or represents a period of increased risk as compared to adulthood. Objective The present study evaluated the influence of adolescent age and hurricane experiences on mental health in the years following multiple hurricanes in the New Orleans region. Methods 794 women, currently aged 18–45, participating in a cohort study of lifetime adversity and reproductive health completed a survey about hurricane experience and current mental health. Joint associations between disaster experience and age at the time of disaster on depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were evaluated. Results Compared to women who were adults at the time of the disaster, being in early adolescence resulted in reduced depression and PTSD up to 9-years post-disaster, controlling for hurricane experiences, time since disaster, and income. A similar effect was not observed among older adolescents. Increased endorsement of feeling one’s life was in danger and experiencing illness or injury resulted in increased odds of depression, while danger was associated with increased odds of PTSD. Conclusions Younger age at the time of a natural disaster may confer a protective effect on mental health outcomes post-disaster, even when disaster experiences are considered, potentially representing the importance of parental support and cognitive development on disaster effects.

Cumulative Disaster Exposure and Mental and Physical Health Symptoms Among a Large Sample of Gulf Coast Residents

“…The results for mental health are consistent with a growing body of research demonstrating the phenomenon of cumulative disaster exposure (e.g., Harville et al., ; Jacobs & Harville, ). Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms by which cumulative disaster exposure leads to mental health symptoms.…”

“…The model that has received the most empirical support to date is a “cumulative” model wherein disasters influence health in a dose–response fashion. A series of studies by Harville and colleagues has illustrated the phenomenon of cumulative exposure for postdisaster mental health in the Gulf Coast (Harville et al., , ; Jacobs & Harville, ). First, among a sample of 102 women from Southern Louisiana, individuals who had experienced severe exposure (defined as being forced to evacuate or experiencing the death of a relative) to both Katrina and Hurricane Gustav, which struck the area in September 2008, had elevated levels of both PTSD and depression symptoms relative to those who experienced severe exposure to only one or neither disaster (Harville et al., ).…”

“…First, among a sample of 102 women from Southern Louisiana, individuals who had experienced severe exposure (defined as being forced to evacuate or experiencing the death of a relative) to both Katrina and Hurricane Gustav, which struck the area in September 2008, had elevated levels of both PTSD and depression symptoms relative to those who experienced severe exposure to only one or neither disaster (Harville et al., ). Second, using a larger sample of 794 women, Jacobs and Harville () examined the cumulative influence of four different domains of exposure to Katrina and Hurricane Gustav, as well as Hurricane Rita, which made landfall in the region less than a month after Katrina: damage (six exposures, such as damage to participant's house), danger (three exposures, such as perception that life was in danger), illness (four exposures, such as whether the participant experienced an illness or injury), and evacuation (single item that assessed whether the participant needed to evacuate during the disaster). Items for each exposure domain were summed across the three hurricanes, which led to a domain‐specific cumulative exposure score.…”

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

“…Taken together, this line of post-disaster research demonstrates the need for a more robust local public health presence, particularly related to behavioral health outreach. Specifically, research demonstrates the need for improved public health surveillance, targeted outreach following an event, and long-term follow-up to prevent the cumulative exposures presented by multiple disasters [29]. …”

“…Among the interesting findings is that based on locally–derived risk assessment data, the seafood from the Gulf of Mexico is safe to eat while one species of imported seafood is contaminated at levels of potential public health concern [28]. Furthermore, as an example of a non-chemical stressor, the largest cohort of GROWH pregnant and reproductive age women reported financial loss as the most significant negative effect of the DWH oil spill [29]. Consortia studies completed soon after the spill found individuals with spill-related income loss were more likely to experience poor psychosocial symptoms [30].…”