Citation

Paul LA, Price M, Gros DF, Gros KS, McCauley JL, Resnick HS, Acierno RE, Ruggiero KJ. J. Clin. Psychol. (Hoboken) 2014; 70(4): 322-332.

Affiliation

Medical University of South Carolina; Northern Illinois University.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/jclp.22026

PMID

23852826

Abstract

Disasters can have wide-ranging effects on individuals and their communities. Loss of specific resources (e.g., household contents, job) following a disaster has not been well studied, despite the implications for preparedness efforts and postdisaster interventions. OBJECTIVE: To provide information about the effects of loss on postdisaster distress, the present study assessed associations between disaster-related variables, including the loss of specific resources, and postdisaster distress. METHOD: Random-digit dialing methodology was used to recruit hurricane-affected adults from Galveston and Chambers, TX, counties one year after Hurricane Ike. Data from 1,249 survivors were analyzed to identify predictors of distress. RESULTS: Variables that were significantly associated with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms included sustained losses, hurricane exposure, and sociodemographic characteristics; similar results were obtained for depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these findings suggest risk factors that may be associated with the development of posthurricane distress that can inform preparedness efforts and posthurricane interventions.

Language: en