Short-term psychological outcomes of Australia’s 2019/20 bushfire season.

Abstract

Objective: We investigated how Australian community members (N = 318) indirectly and/or directly exposed to Australia’s 2019/20 bushfire season differed in terms of psychological distress, posttraumatic growth, coping, physical health, and COVID-19 anxiety. Method: This was a cross-sectional study with a nonequivalent groups design. Participants were over 18 years old, English proficient, and Australian permanent residents or citizens living in Australia at some point between June 2019 and February 2020. Participants completed a 10-minute anonymous online survey 5 to 8 weeks following the bushfires. Results: A descriptive discriminant analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between bushfire exposure groups when considering our dependent variables of interest simultaneously and adjusting for prior mental health assistance and prior exposure to natural disasters: F(10, 624) = 2.83, p = .002; V = .087, partial η2 = .043. The group centroid for the indirect-only exposure group (−.374) was substantially lower than that for the other 2 groups (direct only: .137; direct + indirect: .224), indicating that the indirect-only exposure group could be differentiated by the fact that they more frequently reported avoidant coping strategies and endorsed lower posttraumatic growth scores than the direct-only and direct + indirect exposure groups. The variance accounted for by these discriminant variables was 8.4%, indicating a very small effect. Conclusion: Our results point to a need to tailor and/or expand disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts such that they might benefit community members both directly and indirectly exposed to bushfire events in Australia.

Climate change, environmental extremes, and human health in Australia: challenges, adaptation strategies, and policy gaps

“… 52 A detrimental short- and long-term psychological toll was also observed during bushfires, with numerous Australians suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues such as major depressive episodes, psychological distress, and alcohol misuse. 53 , 54 , 55 …”

The Role of Zoos and Aquariums in Contributing to the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

“…Indeed, for zoos, the World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Education Strategy [88] already recommends this diversity of outcomes, suggesting a transformational learning approach that "can support new ways for audiences to consciously make meaning of their lives in relation to sustainable futures for species, ecosystems, and humanity" [88] (p. 47). Consequently, conservation education interventions have moved away from solely 'chalk and talk' pedagogies to embrace more diverse methods of delivery, such as using digital technology [89], the performing arts [10], longer-term engagement with participants [90], post-intervention tools and resources [91], as well as combining interventions with direct nature and wildlife experiences [87,[92][93][94][95][96].…”

A Community Mental Health Integrated Disaster Preparedness Intervention for Bushfire Recovery in Rural Australian Communities: Protocol for a Multimethods Feasibility and Acceptability Pilot Study

“…The 2019-2020 bushfires resulted in significant psychological distress for both directly and indirectly exposed Australians [ 11 ]. Direct exposure to bushfires includes but is not limited to (1) loss of property, infrastructure, livelihood, and life; (2) impact of smoke inhalation on both physical and mental health; and (3) first-hand exposure to bushfire events.…”