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The contribution of pre- and postdisaster social support to short- and long-term mental health after Hurricanes Katrina: A longitudinal study of low-income survivors

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  • Chan, Christian S.
  • Lowe, Sarah R.
  • Weber, Elyssa
  • Rhodes, Jean E.

Abstract

A previous study of Hurricane Katrina survivors found that higher levels of predisaster social support were associated with lower psychological distress one year after the storm, and that this pathway was mediated by lower exposure to hurricane-related stressors. As a follow-up, we examined the impact of pre- and postdisaster social support on longer-term of mental health—both psychological distress and posttraumatic stress. In this three-wave longitudinal study, 492 residents in the region affected by Hurricane Katrina reported levels of perceived social support and symptoms of psychological distress prior to the storm (Wave 1). Subsequently, one year after Hurricane Katrina (Wave 2), they reported levels of exposure, perceived social support, and symptoms of psychological distress and posttraumatic stress. The latter three variables were assessed again four years after the hurricane (Wave 3). Results of mediation analysis indicated that levels of exposure to hurricane-related stressors mediated the relationship between Wave 1 perceived social support and Wave 3 psychological distress as well as postdisaster posttraumatic stress. Results of regression analyses indicated that, controlling for Wave 1 psychological distress and disaster exposure, Wave 2 perceived social support was associated with Wave 2 and Wave 3 psychological distress but not posttraumatic stress. Our results confirmed the social causation processes of social support and suggest that posttraumatic stress might not stem directly from the lack of social support. Rather, preexisting deficits in social resources might indirectly affect longer-term posttraumatic stress and general psychological distress by increasing risk for disaster-related stressors.

Suggested Citation

  • Chan, Christian S. & Lowe, Sarah R. & Weber, Elyssa & Rhodes, Jean E., 2015. "The contribution of pre- and postdisaster social support to short- and long-term mental health after Hurricanes Katrina: A longitudinal study of low-income survivors," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 38-43.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:138:y:2015:i:c:p:38-43
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.05.037
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    1. Christian S Chan & Jean E Rhodes, 2014. "Measuring Exposure in Hurricane Katrina: A Meta-Analysis and an Integrative Data Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(4), pages 1-15, April.
    2. Paxson, Christina & Fussell, Elizabeth & Rhodes, Jean & Waters, Mary, 2012. "Five years later: Recovery from post traumatic stress and psychological distress among low-income mothers affected by Hurricane Katrina," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(2), pages 150-157.
    3. Sastry, N. & VanLandingham, M., 2009. "One year later: mental illness prevalence and disparities among New Orleans residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(S3), pages 725-731.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Sarah R Lowe & Ethan J Raker & Mary C Waters & Jean E Rhodes, 2020. "Predisaster predictors of posttraumatic stress symptom trajectories: An analysis of low-income women in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(10), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Wanying Mao & Medard Adu & Ejemai Eboreime & Reham Shalaby & Nnamdi Nkire & Belinda Agyapong & Hannah Pazderka & Gloria Obuobi-Donkor & Ernest Owusu & Folajinmi Oluwasina & Yanbo Zhang & Vincent I. O., 2022. "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Wildfires: A Fifth-Year Postdisaster Evaluation among Residents of Fort McMurray," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-21, August.
    4. Rebecca M. Schwartz & Christina N. Gillezeau & Bian Liu & Wil Lieberman-Cribbin & Emanuela Taioli, 2017. "Longitudinal Impact of Hurricane Sandy Exposure on Mental Health Symptoms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-12, August.
    5. Brilleman, Samuel L. & Wolfe, Rory & Moreno-Betancur, Margarita & Sales, Anne E. & Langa, Kenneth M. & Li, Yun & Daugherty Biddison, Elizabeth L. & Rubinson, Lewis & Iwashyna, Theodore J., 2017. "Associations between community-level disaster exposure and individual-level changes in disability and risk of death for older Americans," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 118-125.
    6. Raker, Ethan J. & Lowe, Sarah R. & Arcaya, Mariana C. & Johnson, Sydney T. & Rhodes, Jean & Waters, Mary C., 2019. "Twelve years later: The long-term mental health consequences of Hurricane Katrina," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).

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