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Lessons from Hurricane Katrina for predicting the indirect health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Ethan J. Raker

    (Department of Sociology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138)

  • Meghan Zacher

    (Population Studies and Training Center, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912)

  • Sarah R. Lowe

    (Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, 06510)

Abstract

Beyond their immediate effects on mortality, disasters have widespread, indirect impacts on mental and physical well-being by exposing survivors to stress and potential trauma. Identifying the disaster-related stressors that predict health adversity will help officials prepare for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Using data from a prospective study of young, low-income mothers who survived Hurricane Katrina, we find that bereavement, fearing for loved ones’ well-being, and lacking access to medical care and medications predict adverse mental and physical health 1 y postdisaster, and some effects persist 12 y later. Adjusting for preexisting health and socioeconomic conditions attenuates, but does not eliminate, these associations. The findings, while drawn from a demographically unique sample, suggest that, to mitigate the indirect effects of COVID-19, lapses in medical care and medication use must be minimized, and public health resources should be directed to those with preexisting medical conditions, their social networks, and the bereaved.

Suggested Citation

  • Ethan J. Raker & Meghan Zacher & Sarah R. Lowe, 2020. "Lessons from Hurricane Katrina for predicting the indirect health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 117(23), pages 12595-12597, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nas:journl:v:117:y:2020:p:12595-12597
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    Cited by:

    1. Lohmann, Paul M. & Gsottbauer, Elisabeth & You, Jing & Kontoleon, Andreas, 2023. "Anti-social behaviour and economic decision-making: Panel experimental evidence in the wake of COVID-19," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 136-171.
    2. Jacob Hochard & Yuanhao Li & Nino Abashidze, 2022. "Associations of hurricane exposure and forecasting with impaired birth outcomes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Emery, Rebecca L. & Johnson, Sydney T. & Simone, Melissa & Loth, Katie A. & Berge, Jerica M. & Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne, 2021. "Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stress, mood, and substance use among young adults in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area: Findings from project EAT," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    4. Salarpour, Mojtaba & Nagurney, Anna, 2021. "A multicountry, multicommodity stochastic game theory network model of competition for medical supplies inspired by the Covid-19 pandemic," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    5. Stephanie Deeb & Devin Madden & Timnit Ghebretinsae & Joyce Lin & Umut Ozbek & Victoria Mayer & Nita Vangeepuram, 2022. "Child Disruptions, Remote Learning, and Parent Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-16, May.
    6. Andrew C Stokes & Dielle J Lundberg & Irma T Elo & Katherine Hempstead & Jacob Bor & Samuel H Preston, 2021. "COVID-19 and excess mortality in the United States: A county-level analysis," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(5), pages 1-18, May.
    7. Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez & Eduardo Navarro-Jiménez & Manuel Jimenez & Alberto Hormeño-Holgado & Marina Begoña Martinez-Gonzalez & Juan Camilo Benitez-Agudelo & Natalia Perez-Palencia & Carmen Ce, 2021. "Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic in Public Mental Health: An Extensive Narrative Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-21, March.

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