Natural hazards and mental health among US Gulf Coast residents.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Individuals affected by disasters are at risk for adverse mental health sequelae. Individuals living in the US Gulf Coast have experienced many recent major disasters, but few studies have explored the cumulative burden of experiencing multiple disasters on mental health.

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between disaster burden and mental health.

Methods

We used data from 9278 Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study participants who completed questionnaires on perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 2011-2013. We linked 2005-2010 county-level data from the Spatial Hazard Events and Losses Database for the United States, a database of loss-causing events, to participant's home address.

SUBMITTER: Hu MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8371064 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature