An exploration of posttraumatic growth, loneliness, depression, resilience, and social capital among survivors of Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the relationships among posttraumatic growth (PTG), loneliness, depression, psychological resilience, and social capital among survivors of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. The survey was administered to a spatially stratified, random sample of households in the three coastal counties of Mississippi. A total of 216 participants were included in this study who lived in close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico coastline during both disasters. Results from structural equation modeling analyses indicated that there was a significant and inverse relationship between PTG and loneliness. Conversely, a direct relationship was not found between PTG and depressive symptoms; instead, the results revealed an indirect relationship between PTG and depressive symptoms through loneliness. Social capital was related to loneliness only indirectly through PTG, while psychological resilience was related to loneliness both directly and indirectly through PTG. Understanding the relationships among these factors, particularly the importance of PTG, can provide insight into the long-term adaptation among those who have survived multiple disasters. Further, these findings may lead to nuanced methods for behavioral health practitioners in assessing and treating individuals with symptoms of depression in disaster-prone communities.

Emotion regulation processes as mediators of the impact of past life events on older adults’ psychological distress

“…Similarly, another variable presented in this study is personal growth associated with life events. Consistent with previous studies in other populations, showing positive relationships between posttraumatic growth and psychological well-being (Calhoun and Tedeschi, 2014) and negative relationships with depressive symptomatology (Lee et al, 2018), personal growth had a positive impact on distress in this study. Moreover, this variable acted as mediator in the relationship between life events (positive and negative) and psychological distress.…”

“…In this way, although research is still scarce, our findings coincide with those authors who maintain that personal growth is a basic element in the emotion regulation processes that take place when coping with traumatic life events (Dekel et al, 2012). As for the mechanisms responsible for this relationship, it is proposed that personal growth can generate changes (both in oneself and in interpersonal relationships) that protect the person from the characteristic feelings of isolation and loneliness (Lee et al, 2018).…”

Gender differences in the interaction effect of community resources and attitudes toward seeking professional help on posttraumatic stress, depression, and posttraumatic growth

“…Considering deliberate rumination has been positively associated with PTG (Cann et al, ), rumination may potentially explain the positive relation between open attitudes on psychological treatment and growth. Furthermore, for those with lower attitudes toward seeking psychological treatment, community resources may create a place to associate with other individuals, increasing stronger ties with community and neighbors, which are known to be associated with PTG (Lee et al, ).…”

“…Considering that experience of PTG includes being able to relate to others and better appreciate for life, it is not surprising that PTG may be associated with resource gains and the community, which individuals are living. In fact, among survivors of Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, social capital was significantly associated with PTG (Lee, Blackmon, Lee, Cochran, & Rehner, ). These results suggest an important role of community in not only alleviating pathology but enhancing growth after a disaster.…”

Chronic Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change Extremes: A Case Study of the Largest Californian Wild Fire

“…The two most common adverse mental health outcomes of natural disasters are depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (17). While research provides evidence for a cumulative impact of exposure to disasters (20,21), most studies report data from the aftermath of a single disaster, and most of those again classi ed as natural disasters, and not climate-change driven extreme environmental events. Prior studies of wild res provide evidence for mental health sequelae, particularly for PTSD symptoms in California residents in the immediate aftermath of the 1991 restorm (22); symptoms were shown to substantially decreased over time (23).…”