Longitudinal Impact of Hurricane Sandy Exposure on Mental Health Symptoms
Hurricane Sandy hit the eastern coast of the United States in October 2012, causing billions of dollars in damage and acute physical and mental health problems. The long-term mental health consequences of the storm and their predictors have not been studied. New York City and Long Island residents c...
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doaj-05bfc51c30a34a9188746873e1d242db2020-11-24T20:42:45ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012017-08-0114995710.3390/ijerph14090957ijerph14090957Longitudinal Impact of Hurricane Sandy Exposure on Mental Health SymptomsRebecca M. Schwartz0Christina N. Gillezeau1Bian Liu2Wil Lieberman-Cribbin3Emanuela Taioli4Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Hofstra Northwell Health School of Medicine, Great Neck, NY 11021, USADepartment of Population Health Science and Policy and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USADepartment of Population Health Science and Policy and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USADepartment of Population Health Science and Policy and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USADepartment of Population Health Science and Policy and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USAHurricane Sandy hit the eastern coast of the United States in October 2012, causing billions of dollars in damage and acute physical and mental health problems. The long-term mental health consequences of the storm and their predictors have not been studied. New York City and Long Island residents completed questionnaires regarding their initial Hurricane Sandy exposure and mental health symptoms at baseline and 1 year later (N = 130). There were statistically significant decreases in anxiety scores (mean difference = −0.33, p < 0.01) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) scores (mean difference = −1.98, p = 0.001) between baseline and follow-up. Experiencing a combination of personal and property damage was positively associated with long-term PTSD symptoms (ORadj 1.2, 95% CI [1.1–1.4]) but not with anxiety or depression. Having anxiety, depression, or PTSD at baseline was a significant predictor of persistent anxiety (ORadj 2.8 95% CI [1.1–6.8], depression (ORadj 7.4 95% CI [2.3–24.1) and PTSD (ORadj 4.1 95% CI [1.1–14.6]) at follow-up. Exposure to Hurricane Sandy has an impact on PTSD symptoms that persists over time. Given the likelihood of more frequent and intense hurricanes due to climate change, future hurricane recovery efforts must consider the long-term effects of hurricane exposure on mental health, especially on PTSD, when providing appropriate assistance and treatment.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/9/957natural disastersfollow-upanxietydepressionpost-traumatic stress disorder |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Rebecca M. Schwartz Christina N. Gillezeau Bian Liu Wil Lieberman-Cribbin Emanuela Taioli |
spellingShingle |
Rebecca M. Schwartz Christina N. Gillezeau Bian Liu Wil Lieberman-Cribbin Emanuela Taioli Longitudinal Impact of Hurricane Sandy Exposure on Mental Health Symptoms International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health natural disasters follow-up anxiety depression post-traumatic stress disorder |
author_facet |
Rebecca M. Schwartz Christina N. Gillezeau Bian Liu Wil Lieberman-Cribbin Emanuela Taioli |
author_sort |
Rebecca M. Schwartz |
title |
Longitudinal Impact of Hurricane Sandy Exposure on Mental Health Symptoms |
title_short |
Longitudinal Impact of Hurricane Sandy Exposure on Mental Health Symptoms |
title_full |
Longitudinal Impact of Hurricane Sandy Exposure on Mental Health Symptoms |
title_fullStr |
Longitudinal Impact of Hurricane Sandy Exposure on Mental Health Symptoms |
title_full_unstemmed |
Longitudinal Impact of Hurricane Sandy Exposure on Mental Health Symptoms |
title_sort |
longitudinal impact of hurricane sandy exposure on mental health symptoms |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2017-08-01 |
description |
Hurricane Sandy hit the eastern coast of the United States in October 2012, causing billions of dollars in damage and acute physical and mental health problems. The long-term mental health consequences of the storm and their predictors have not been studied. New York City and Long Island residents completed questionnaires regarding their initial Hurricane Sandy exposure and mental health symptoms at baseline and 1 year later (N = 130). There were statistically significant decreases in anxiety scores (mean difference = −0.33, p < 0.01) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) scores (mean difference = −1.98, p = 0.001) between baseline and follow-up. Experiencing a combination of personal and property damage was positively associated with long-term PTSD symptoms (ORadj 1.2, 95% CI [1.1–1.4]) but not with anxiety or depression. Having anxiety, depression, or PTSD at baseline was a significant predictor of persistent anxiety (ORadj 2.8 95% CI [1.1–6.8], depression (ORadj 7.4 95% CI [2.3–24.1) and PTSD (ORadj 4.1 95% CI [1.1–14.6]) at follow-up. Exposure to Hurricane Sandy has an impact on PTSD symptoms that persists over time. Given the likelihood of more frequent and intense hurricanes due to climate change, future hurricane recovery efforts must consider the long-term effects of hurricane exposure on mental health, especially on PTSD, when providing appropriate assistance and treatment. |
topic |
natural disasters follow-up anxiety depression post-traumatic stress disorder |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/9/957 |
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