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Post-traumatic stress symptomatology and displacement among Hurricane Harvey survivors

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  • Fitzpatrick, Kevin M.

Abstract

Exposure to natural disasters predisposes individuals to significant physical and mental health consequences. Research identifies a number of stressors important to determining what might exacerbate this exposure risk, as well as what types of social/psychological resources might help mitigate these negative outcomes. Using a targeted quota sample of adults (n = 316) interviewed two months after Hurricane Harvey made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Texas in August 2017, the present study examines the intersection of vulnerabilities, stressors, and resources and their relationship with post-traumatic stress symptomatology. Stress is high among this sampled group with over one-quarter of respondents reporting high enough symptoms to meet the clinical caseness criteria for PTSD. Results show significant variation across categorical groupings of post-traumatic stress symptoms; younger persons, nonwhites, and those displaced from their home during the storm were more likely to be found in the highest symptom count category. Regression results confirm the bivariate results and as hypothesized, stressors were associated with higher symptom reporting among respondents, and social and psychological resources were associated with lower symptom reporting. With one of the only studies to report these relationships between vulnerability, stressors, and resources in the post-disaster Harvey setting, our work underscores the importance of identifying who is at risk, what factors can potentially mitigate that risk, and just how severe the consequences can be for survivors requiring mental health services after a disaster. Clearly, more work is needed, particularly on the identification of resources acting as protection against the overwhelming circumstances of exposure to devastation and destruction caused by natural disasters.

Suggested Citation

  • Fitzpatrick, Kevin M., 2021. "Post-traumatic stress symptomatology and displacement among Hurricane Harvey survivors," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:270:y:2021:i:c:s0277953620308534
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113634
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fussell, Elizabeth & Lowe, Sarah R., 2014. "The impact of housing displacement on the mental health of low-income parents after Hurricane Katrina," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 137-144.
    2. Morris, Katherine Ann & Deterding, Nicole M., 2016. "The emotional cost of distance: Geographic social network dispersion and post-traumatic stress among survivors of Hurricane Katrina," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 56-65.
    3. Sarah R Lowe & Laura Sampson & Oliver Gruebner & Sandro Galea, 2015. "Psychological Resilience after Hurricane Sandy: The Influence of Individual- and Community-Level Factors on Mental Health after a Large-Scale Natural Disaster," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(5), pages 1-15, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Shin, Su Hyun & Ji, Hyunjung, 2021. "Health risks of natural hazards and resilience resources: Evidence from a U.S. nationwide longitudinal study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).

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