%0 Journal Article
%T Prevalence and predictors of generalized anxiety disorder symptoms in residents of Fort McMurray five years after the devastating wildfires
%J Trauma care (Basel, Switzerland)
%D 2022
%A Owusu, Ernest
%A Shalaby, Reham
%A Eboreime, Ejemai
%A Nkire, Nnamdi
%A Agyapong, Belinda
%A Obuobi-Donkor, Gloria
%A Adu, Medard K.
%A Mao, Wanying
%A Oluwasina, Folajinmi
%A Lawal, Mobolaji A.
%A Agyapong, Vincent I. O.
%V 2
%N 2
%P 282-297
%X BACKGROUND: Natural disasters adversely impact individuals living in places where they occur, resulting in emotional distress. The wildfire that occurred in Fort McMurray (FMM), Alberta in 2016 is no different. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify the prevalence and predictors of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) symptoms in residents of FMM five years after the devastating wildfires. <br><br>METHODS: Data for the study were collected through a cross-sectional survey conducted online from the 24th of April to the 2nd of June 2021. A validated instrument, the GAD-7 scale, was used to collect information on anxiety. <br><br>RESULTS: This study involved 186 residents of FMM, of which the majority were females (85.5%), employed (94.1%), working at school boards (50.0%), and were either married, cohabiting, or partnered (71.0%). The prevalence of likely GAD among the study sample was 42.5%. Unemployed respondents were seventeen times more likely to develop GAD symptoms (OR = 16.62; 95% C.I. 1.23-223.67) while respondents who would like to receive mental health counseling were five times more likely to experience GAD symptoms (OR = 5.35; 95% C.I. 2.03-14.15). Respondents who suffered a loss of property because of the wildfire were two times more likely to develop GAD symptoms (OR = 2.36; 95% C.I. 1.01-22.62). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Policymakers may mitigate GAD symptoms, particularly after natural disasters, by making long-term mental health counseling available and a key component of post-disaster management, and by investing in the social capital of the people to build resilience and support to deal with the post-disaster mental health effects.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I MDPI: Multidisciplinary Digital Publications Institute
%@ 2673-866X
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/traumacare2020024