Citation

Rhodes J, Chan C, Paxson C, Rouse CE, Waters M, Fussell E. Am. J. Orthopsychiatry 2010; 80(2): 237-247.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02125, USA. jean.rhodes@umb.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, American Orthopsychiatric Association, Publisher Wiley Blackwell)

DOI

10.1111/j.1939-0025.2010.01027.x

PMID

20553517

PMCID

PMC3276074

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to document changes in mental and physical health among 392 low-income parents exposed to Hurricane Katrina and to explore how hurricane-related stressors and loss relate to post-Katrina well-being. The prevalence of probable serious mental illness doubled, and nearly half of the respondents exhibited probable posttraumatic stress disorder. Higher levels of hurricane-related loss and stressors were generally associated with worse health outcomes, controlling for baseline sociodemographic and health measures. Higher baseline resources predicted fewer hurricane-associated stressors, but the consequences of stressors and loss were similar regardless of baseline resources. Adverse health consequences of Hurricane Katrina persisted for a year or more and were most severe for those experiencing the most stressors and loss. Long-term health and mental health services are needed for low-income disaster survivors, especially those who experience disaster-related stressors and loss.

Language: en