IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/socmed/v73y2011i11p1593-1599.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The psychological impact of chronic environmental adversity: Responding to prolonged drought

Author

Listed:
  • Stain, Helen J.
  • Kelly, Brian
  • Carr, Vaughan J.
  • Lewin, Terry J.
  • Fitzgerald, Michael
  • Fragar, Lyn

Abstract

The health effects of chronic environmental adversity have received insufficient attention, particularly those associated with the psychological impact of drought. Resilience or adaptive response to drought has received even less attention than vulnerability factors. This research examined factors associated with drought impact in rural and remote Australian communities. In 2008 postal surveys were completed by 302 adults (mean age 53 years; 57% female, 77% married) living in rural areas of prolonged drought exposure. Outcome measures were: (i) psychological distress (Kessler 10) and (ii) an index of concern or worry about drought. A range of predictor variables were assessed: adaptability (hopefulness, neuroticism), other adverse events, personal support and community connectedness, and sense of place, as a measure of connection to the local environment. Predictors of drought related worry differed from those associated with psychological distress levels. The former included socio-economic factors (living on a farm [Odds Ratio, OR 3.09], current employment [OR 3.64]), personal psychological characteristics (neuroticism [OR 1.29]), and greater connection with the environment (sense of place [OR 1.05]). On the other hand, psychological distress was associated chiefly with personal factors, such as higher neuroticism [OR 1.92], lower levels of hopefulness [OR 0.28], and lower perceived social support and community connectedness [OR 0.39]. Practical financial, employment and family factors were identified as important elements of drought impact, as to a lesser extent was sense of place, reflecting a confrontation with the consequences of chronic environmental degradation, while personal hopefulness may help mitigate the psychological impact of such adversity.

Suggested Citation

  • Stain, Helen J. & Kelly, Brian & Carr, Vaughan J. & Lewin, Terry J. & Fitzgerald, Michael & Fragar, Lyn, 2011. "The psychological impact of chronic environmental adversity: Responding to prolonged drought," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(11), pages 1593-1599.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:73:y:2011:i:11:p:1593-1599
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.09.016
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953611005843
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.09.016?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wutich, Amber & Ragsdale, Kathleen, 2008. "Water insecurity and emotional distress: Coping with supply, access, and seasonal variability of water in a Bolivian squatter settlement," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(12), pages 2116-2125, December.
    2. Crighton, Eric J. & Elliott, Susan J. & Meer, Joost van der & Small, Ian & Upshur, Ross, 2003. "Impacts of an environmental disaster on psychosocial health and well-being in Karakalpakstan," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 56(3), pages 551-567, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Bo Wang & Shunxia Wang & Lanyu Li & Shenggang Xu & Chengyun Li & Sheng Li & Jinyu Wang & Hupeng He & Jingping Niu & Kai Zhang & Bin Luo, 2021. "The association between drought and outpatient visits for respiratory diseases in four northwest cities of China," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 167(1), pages 1-15, July.
    2. Daghagh Yazd, Sahar & Wheeler, Sarah Ann & Zuo, Alec, 2020. "Understanding the impacts of water scarcity and socio-economic demographics on farmer mental health in the Murray-Darling Basin," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    3. Sahar Daghagh Yazd & Sarah Ann Wheeler & Alec Zuo, 2019. "Exploring the Drivers of Irrigator Mental Health in the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-15, November.
    4. Nogueira, Patrícia & Faria, Silvana & Mosley, Benjamin & Domingues, Rita, 2021. "Risk Awareness And Quality Of Life Of A Coastal Community Exposed To Environmental Hazards (Luanda, Angola)," Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being, Cinturs - Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being, University of Algarve, vol. 9(3), pages 205-224.
    5. Catherine E. Lambert & Jason R. Holley & Katherine A. McComas & Natalie P. Snider & Grace K. Tucker, 2021. "Eroding Land and Erasing Place: A Qualitative Study of Place Attachment, Risk Perception, and Coastal Land Loss in Southern Louisiana," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-16, June.
    6. Amondo, Emily Injete, 2021. "Gender Gap in Health Outcomes Among the Rural Working Age Individuals: Does Weather Effects Play a Role?," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315096, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    7. Jason R. Holley & Katherine A. McComas & Catherine E. Lambert & Natalie P. Snider & Grace K. Tucker, 2022. "Responding to flood risk in Louisiana: the roles of place attachment, emotions, and location," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 113(1), pages 615-640, August.
    8. David A. Fleming‐Muñoz & Stuart Whitten & Graham D. Bonnett, 2023. "The economics of drought: A review of impacts and costs," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 67(4), pages 501-523, October.
    9. Domingues, Rita & Costas, Susana & Neves Jesus, Saul & Ferreira, Óscar, 2019. "Assessing stakeholders’ risk perceptions in a vulnerable coastal tourism destination (Faro beach, Southern Portugal)," Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being, Cinturs - Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being, University of Algarve, vol. 7(1), pages 22-38.
    10. Simin Mehdipour & Nouzar Nakhaee & Farzaneh Zolala & Maryam Okhovati & Afsar Foroud & Ali Akbar Haghdoost, 2022. "A systematized review exploring the map of publications on the health impacts of drought," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 113(1), pages 35-62, August.
    11. Ellis, Neville R. & Albrecht, Glenn A., 2017. "Climate change threats to family farmers' sense of place and mental wellbeing: A case study from the Western Australian Wheatbelt," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 161-168.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Holly Vins & Jesse Bell & Shubhayu Saha & Jeremy J. Hess, 2015. "The Mental Health Outcomes of Drought: A Systematic Review and Causal Process Diagram," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-25, October.
    2. Anna Yusa & Peter Berry & June J.Cheng & Nicholas Ogden & Barrie Bonsal & Ronald Stewart & Ruth Waldick, 2015. "Climate Change, Drought and Human Health in Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-54, July.
    3. Priscila Neves-Silva & Juliana Aurora de Oliveira Lopes & Léo Heller, 2020. "The right to water: Impact on the quality of life of rural workers in a settlement of the Landless Workers Movement, Brazil," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(7), pages 1-13, July.
    4. Mushavi, Rumbidzai C. & Burns, Bridget F.O. & Kakuhikire, Bernard & Owembabazi, Moran & Vořechovská, Dagmar & McDonough, Amy Q. & Cooper-Vince, Christine E. & Baguma, Charles & Rasmussen, Justin D. & , 2020. "“When you have no water, it means you have no peace”: A mixed-methods, whole-population study of water insecurity and depression in rural Uganda," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    5. Korzenevica, Marina & Fallon Grasham, Catherine & Johnson, Zoé & Gebreegzabher, Amleset & Mebrahtu, Samrawit & Zerihun, Zenawi & Ferdous Hoque, Sonia & Charles, Katrina Jane, 2022. "Negotiating spaces of marginality and independence: On women entrepreneurs within Ethiopian urbanization and water precarity," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    6. Nadia Koyratty & Andrew D. Jones & Roseanne Schuster & Katarzyna Kordas & Chin-Shang Li & Mduduzi N. N. Mbuya & Godfred O. Boateng & Robert Ntozini & Bernard Chasekwa & Jean H. Humphrey & Laura E. Smi, 2021. "Food Insecurity and Water Insecurity in Rural Zimbabwe: Development of Multidimensional Household Measures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-23, June.
    7. Winter, James C. & Darmstadt, Gary L. & Davis, Jennifer, 2021. "The role of piped water supplies in advancing health, economic development, and gender equality in rural communities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    8. Brewis, Alexandra & Choudhary, Neetu & Wutich, Amber, 2019. "Household water insecurity may influence common mental disorders directly and indirectly through multiple pathways: Evidence from Haiti," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 1-1.
    9. Juliana Marcal & Blanca Antizar-Ladislao & Jan Hofman, 2021. "Addressing Water Security: An Overview," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-18, December.
    10. Namrata Chindarkar & Yvonne Jie Chen & Yogendra Gurung, 2019. "Subjective Well-Being Effects of Coping Cost: Evidence from Household Water Supply in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(8), pages 2581-2608, December.
    11. Huffman, Samantha A. & Veen, Jaap & Hennink, Monique M. & McFarland, Deborah A., 2012. "Exploitation, vulnerability to tuberculosis and access to treatment among Uzbek labor migrants in Kazakhstan," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(6), pages 864-872.
    12. Joseph Kangmennaang & Elijah Bisung & Susan J. Elliott, 2020. "‘We Are Drinking Diseases’: Perception of Water Insecurity and Emotional Distress in Urban Slums in Accra, Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-17, January.
    13. Farooq Ahmed & Muhammad Shahid & Yang Cao & Madeeha Gohar Qureshi & Sidra Zia & Saireen Fatima & Jing Guo, 2021. "A Qualitative Exploration in Causes of Water Insecurity Experiences, and Gender and Nutritional Consequences in South-Punjab, Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-14, November.
    14. Juan Espinosa-Montero & Eric A Monterrubio-Flores & Marcela Sanchez-Estrada & Inmaculada Buendia-Jimenez & Harris R Lieberman & François-Andre Allaert & Simon Barquera, 2016. "Development and Validation of an Instrument to Evaluate Perceived Wellbeing Associated with the Ingestion of Water: The Water Ingestion-Related Wellbeing Instrument (WIRWI)," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(7), pages 1-14, July.
    15. Beresford, Melissa & Brewis, Alexandra & Choudhary, Neetu & Drew, Georgina & Garcia, Nataly Escobedo & Garrick, Dustin & Hossain, Mohammed Jobayer & Lopez, Ernesto & Nébié, Elisabeth Ilboudo & Pacheco, 2023. "Justice and Moral Economies in Modular, Adaptive, and Decentralized (MAD) Water Systems," SocArXiv 6ywp7, Center for Open Science.
    16. Tolulope O. Odimayomi & Caitlin R. Proctor & Qi Erica Wang & Arman Sabbaghi & Kimberly S. Peterson & David J. Yu & Juneseok Lee & Amisha D. Shah & Christian J. Ley & Yoorae Noh & Charlotte D. Smith & , 2021. "Water safety attitudes, risk perception, experiences, and education for households impacted by the 2018 Camp Fire, California," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 108(1), pages 947-975, August.
    17. Bach, Vanessa & Finogenova, Natalia & Berger, Markus & Winter, Lisa & Finkbeiner, Matthias, 2017. "Enhancing the assessment of critical resource use at the country level with the SCARCE method – Case study of Germany," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 283-299.
    18. Ramnath Subbaraman & Laura Nolan & Kiran Sawant & Shrutika Shitole & Tejal Shitole & Mahesh Nanarkar & Anita Patil-Deshmukh & David E Bloom, 2015. "Multidimensional Measurement of Household Water Poverty in a Mumbai Slum: Looking Beyond Water Quality," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(7), pages 1-19, July.
    19. Godfred O Boateng & Shalean M Collins & Patrick Mbullo & Pauline Wekesa & Maricianah Onono & Torsten B Neilands & Sera L Young, 2018. "A novel household water insecurity scale: Procedures and psychometric analysis among postpartum women in western Kenya," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(6), pages 1-28, June.
    20. Morales, Margaret C. & Harris, Leila M., 2014. "Using Subjectivity and Emotion to Reconsider Participatory Natural Resource Management," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 703-712.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:73:y:2011:i:11:p:1593-1599. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/315/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.