Identifying Risk and Resilience Factors Impacting Mental Health among Black and Latinx Adults following Nocturnal Tornadoes in the U.S. Southeast

Abstract

Prior research has found that Black and Latinx communities in the U.S. face significant disparities that impact both preparedness for severe weather events and the support received after a disaster has occurred. In the current study, we examined key risk and protective factors that impacted mental health among 221 Black and Latinx adult respondents exposed to the 2–3 March 2020 nocturnal tornado outbreak in the U.S. state of Tennessee. Key factors that adversely affected mental health among participants were encountering barriers for receiving tornado warning alerts and tornado-related exposure. Key factors that served a protective mechanism against adverse mental health included having access to physical resources, supportive relationships, and adaptive coping skills. These findings may assist National Weather Service (NWS) personnel, emergency managers, and mental health providers with the development of policies and practices to address barriers and promote protective strategies for future nocturnal tornado events.

Mental Health Impacts of Tornadoes: A Systematic Review

“… Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): We found in multiple studies that residents exposed to tornadoes reported PTSD or PTSD-related symptoms. Degree of tornado exposure, gender, age, emotional support, and barriers to a tornado warning were factors related to post-tornado PTSD [ 4 , 15 , 17 , 19 , 21 , 25 , 26 , 32 , 35 , 38 , 39 ]. PTSD, or symptoms associated with PTSD, was also found to be related to other mental and behavioral health needs such as depression [ 20 , 21 , 25 ], binge drinking [ 16 ], or substance abuse [ 15 ].…”

“…PTSD, or symptoms associated with PTSD, was also found to be related to other mental and behavioral health needs such as depression [ 20 , 21 , 25 ], binge drinking [ 16 ], or substance abuse [ 15 ]. Studies found women were more likely to report more PTSD symptoms than men after a tornado [ 4 , 21 , 35 , 39 ], and one study found men were more likely to report depression symptoms following the Joplin 2011 tornado [ 25 ]. The questionnaires to measure PTSD were a modified version of the SF-12, The National Survey of Adolescents Replication PTSD Modules, OSU PTSD Scale-CF, the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for Civilians, the Trauma Screening Questionnaire, Frederick Reaction Index, and the Child PTSD Symptom Scale and The UCLA PTSD index.…”

“…However, for girls, regardless of the level of tornado exposure, social support was associated with PTSD and depression [ 29 ]. Race and ethnicity: Two articles addressed specific challenges that the African-American and Latinx populations faced in the context of tornadoes [ 4 , 39 ]. Black and Latinx residents who reported difficulties receiving tornado warning alerts experienced more tornado exposure and adverse mental health impacts, and the intersections of ethnicity, language difficulties, citizenship, pre-mental health symptoms, and social class were also found to contribute to additional stressors [ 4 ].…”

“… Race and ethnicity: Two articles addressed specific challenges that the African-American and Latinx populations faced in the context of tornadoes [ 4 , 39 ]. Black and Latinx residents who reported difficulties receiving tornado warning alerts experienced more tornado exposure and adverse mental health impacts, and the intersections of ethnicity, language difficulties, citizenship, pre-mental health symptoms, and social class were also found to contribute to additional stressors [ 4 ]. Economic factors: Having lower income, renting, having debt, not having insurance, and loss of material resources were the significant risk factors for post-tornado adverse mental health symptoms [ 19 , 24 , 25 , 29 , 39 ].…”

“…The average number of tornadoes has been increasing since 1954, and the likelihood of extreme tornadoes is also increasing [ 3 ], which could exacerbate the severity of the losses and negative effects of tornadoes in the future. While being directly exposed to a tornado can result in death, injuries, and physical damage to buildings and property, it can also have long-term effects on people’s mental health [ 4 ]. Emotional distress, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, sleep disorder, and suicidal ideation have been reported as mental health problems experienced by victims after severe weather events [ 5 , 6 , 7 ].…”