Association Between Repeated Exposure to Hurricanes and Mental Health in a Representative Sample of Florida Residents

Garfin, Dana Rose; Thompson, Rebecca R.; Holman, E. Alison; Wong‐Parodi, Gabrielle; Silver, Roxane Cohen

doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.17251

Cited by 24 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Our finding might imply “spillover” effects from Hurricane Ida (e.g., via media exposure) or continued mental health concerns from the concurrent COVID‐19 pandemic. One study showed that media‐based exposure to hurricanes in Florida residents repeatedly exposed to Hurricanes Irma and Michael were associated with ongoing psychological distress (Garfin et al., 2022 ). Another panel survey study in Florida determined that exposure to storm‐related media accounts of the impending storm were associated with adverse psychological distress post‐Irma (Thompson et al., 2019 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining Hurricane Ida's Impact on Mental Health: Results From a Quasi‐Experimental Analysis

et al. 2023

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Limited research has evaluated the mental health effects during compounding disasters (e.g., a hurricane occurring during a pandemic), and few studies have examined post‐disaster mental health with alternative data sources like crisis text lines. This study examined changes in crisis help‐seeking for individuals in Louisiana, USA, before and after Hurricane Ida (2021), a storm that co‐occurred during the COVID‐19 pandemic. An interrupted time series analysis and difference‐in‐difference analysis for single and multiple group comparisons were used to examine pre‐and post‐changes in crisis text volume (i.e., any crisis text, substance use, thoughts of suicide, stress/anxiety, and bereavement) among help‐seeking individuals in communities that received US Federal Emergency Management Agency individual and public assistance following a presidential disaster declaration. Results showed a significant increase in crisis texts for any reason, thoughts of suicide, stress/anxiety, and bereavement in the four‐week, three‐month, and four‐month post‐impact period. Findings highlight the need for more mental health support for residents directly impacted by disasters like Hurricane Ida.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining Hurricane Ida's Impact on Mental Health: Results From a Quasi‐Experimental Analysis

et al. 2023

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“…Our finding might imply "spillover" effects from Hurricane Ida (e.g., via media exposure) or continued mental health concerns from the concurrent COVID-19 pandemic. One study showed that media-based exposure to hurricanes in Florida residents repeatedly exposed to Hurricanes Irma and Michael were associated with ongoing psychological distress (Garfin et al, 2022). Another panel survey study in Florida determined that exposure to storm-related media accounts of the impending storm were associated with adverse psychological distress post-Irma (Thompson et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining Hurricane Ida's Impact on Mental Health: Results from a Quasi-Experimental Analysis

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et al. 2022

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A robust evidence base shows that as climate change continues, there will be an increase in the occurrence of intense tropical cyclones like Hurricane Ida (Kossin et al., 2020). Since the early 1980s, the intensity, frequency, and duration of North Atlantic hurricanes, as well as the frequency of the strongest hurricanes have all increased (Kossin et al., 2010;Melillo et al., 2014;Walsh et al., 2014). A recent NOAA report concludes that tropical cyclones' intensity and associated rainfall are likely to increase during the 21st century due to anthropogenic climate change, putting US populations at greater risk for hurricane impacts (Knutson et al., 2019). Direct exposure to climate disaster events yields an increase in mental health consequences in the impacted populations, including anxiety (

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“…Thus, the 2017 measure provides a more direct comparison with media exposure to COVID‐19, as participants were also directly exposed to that hazard in real time. Although Hurricane Michael was also a catastrophic hurricane, it made landfall in Florida in an area of the state with relatively low population density; thus, most of our sample was exposed to Hurricane Michael and other 2018 hurricanes via the media or indirectly (e.g., knowing someone exposed) (Garfin et al., 2022 ). See Supporting Information for exact items from the survey and full results using the 2018 media exposure data.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Media exposure, threat processing, and mitigation behaviors in Gulf Coast residents facing the co‐occurring threats of COVID‐19 and hurricanes

2022

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The 2020 hurricane season threatened millions of Americans concurrently grappling with COVID‐19. Processes guiding individual‐level mitigation for these conceptually distinct threats, one novel and chronic (COVID‐19), the other familiar and episodic (hurricanes), are unknown. Theories of health protective behaviors suggest that inputs from external stimuli (e.g., traditional and social media) lead to threat processing, including perceived efficacy (self‐ and response) and perceived threat (susceptibility and severity), guiding mitigation behavior. We surveyed a representative sample of Florida and Texas residents ( N = 1846) between April 14, 2020 and April 27, 2020; many had previous hurricane exposure; all were previously assessed between September 8, 2017 and September 11, 2017. Using preregistered analyses, two generalized structural equation models tested direct and indirect effects of media exposure (traditional media, social media) on self‐reported (1) COVID‐19 mitigation (handwashing, mask‐wearing, social distancing) and (2) hurricane mitigation (preparation behaviors), as mediated through perceived efficacy (self‐ and response) and perceived threat (susceptibility and severity). Self‐efficacy and response efficacy were associated with social distancing ( p = .002), handwashing, mask‐wearing, and hurricane preparation ( p s < 0.001). Perceived susceptibility was positively associated with social distancing ( p = 0.017) and hurricane preparation ( p < 0.001). Perceived severity was positively associated with social distancing ( p < 0.001). Traditional media exhibited indirect effects on COVID‐19 mitigation through increased response efficacy ( p s < 0.05), and to a lesser extent self‐efficacy ( p < 0.05), and on hurricane preparation through increased self‐efficacy and response efficacy and perceived susceptibility ( p s < 0.05). Social media did not exhibit indirect effects on COVID‐19 or hurricane mitigation. Communications targeting efficacy and susceptibility may encourage mitigation behavior; research should explore how social media campaigns can more effectively target threat processing, guiding protective actions.

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Association Between Repeated Exposure to Hurricanes and Mental Health in a Representative Sample of Florida Residents

Abstract: This survey study examines the association between repeated hurricane exposure and mental health and functional impairment outcomes among Florida residents exposed to hurricanes Irma and Michael.

Cited by 24 publications

References 56 publications

Examining Hurricane Ida's Impact on Mental Health: Results From a Quasi‐Experimental Analysis

Examining Hurricane Ida's Impact on Mental Health: Results From a Quasi‐Experimental Analysis

Examining Hurricane Ida's Impact on Mental Health: Results from a Quasi-Experimental Analysis

Media exposure, threat processing, and mitigation behaviors in Gulf Coast residents facing the co‐occurring threats of COVID‐19 and hurricanes

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