Psychosocial resources underlying disaster survivors’ posttraumatic stress symptom trajectories: insight from in-depth interviews with mothers who survived Hurricane Katrina

Abstract

Background : Weather-related disasters, including hurricanes, are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. Vulnerable populations, such as people with low income and racial and ethnic minorities, are particularly prone to increased levels of physical harm and psychiatric adversity from weather-related events. Objectives : We aimed to explore psychosocial resources and coping of survivors with three different posttraumatic stress symptom (PTSS) trajectories ( High-Decreasing , Moderate-Decreasing , and High-Stable ), after Hurricane Katrina across two different time points: F1 (1-year post-disaster) and F3 (12 years post-disaster). Method : Participants in this multi-method study were part of a larger cohort of the Resilience in Survivors of Katrina (RISK) project. Transcripts of interviews completed at the two time points were analysed using two qualitative methods, combining thematic analysis and narrative analysis, and providing both breadth of perspectives with the depth of specific case studies. Results : Sixteen survivors completed interviews at both F1 and F3. From our in-depth analysis of the data, we derived five inductive themes: ‘Hope,’ ‘Adaptive vs maladaptive avoidance,’ ‘Emotional delay,’ ‘Acceptance, Finding Meaning and Being in the Moment,’ and ‘Coping strategies.’ Survivors with High-Decreasing and Moderate-Decreasing PTSS trajectories experienced hope for future, accepted the hurricane and its results, and found efficient ways to cope with their situation. Survivors with High-Stable PTSS trajectories tended to express a lack of hope for future and struggled to be mindful and accept the hurricane and its harm. Unlike survivors with High-Decreasing and Moderate-Decreasing PTSS trajectories, survivors with High-Stable PTSS trajectories also reported less social and family support and faced more discrimination and racism. Conclusion : There are factors beyond individual-level psychosocial resources that may shape post-disaster resilience. When supporting survivors after a weather-related disaster, it is essential to provide ongoing psychological, financial, and physical assistance to bolster these resources.

Taking a trauma and adversity perspective to climate change mental health

“…While social support had a buffering effect, this effect was not seen for those with a high stress load. It is also well demonstrated that there are demographic disparities that moderate the health effects of climate change (Benevolenza & DeRigne, 2019 ), particularly among vulnerable populations such as low-income individuals (Tekin et al, 2023 ) and racial and ethnic minorities (Berberian et al, 2022 ). Pertinently, in addition to individual pre-existing vulnerabilities, the financial stressors emerging directly from extreme disaster events are a core mediator between these events and their adverse mental health outcomes.…”

“…Similarly, Liu et al ( 2021 ) found greater social support increases self-compassion and posttraumatic growth in the aftermath of trauma; as well as increasing prosocial and reducing antisocial behaviours. Individual-level psychosocial resources are also critical protective factors against negative mental health outcomes, with Tekin et al ( 2023 ) finding that in survivors of Hurricane Katrina, factors such as hope for the future, efficient coping strategies, and acceptance of the situation were associated with recovery trajectories of posttraumatic stress, reflected in improvements in individuals’ symptoms over time. While the cumulative impacts of climate change are severe, this evidence points to a number of individual- and community-level protective factors which may buffer the negative mental health effects of climate change-related disaster events and lasting environmental changes.…”