How Do Non-Catastrophic Natural Disasters Impact Middle-Aged-to-Older Persons? Using Baseline Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging Data to Explore Psychological Outcomes Associated with the 2013 Calgary Flood

Author(s):  
Samantha J. Norberg ◽  
Ann M. Toohey ◽  
David B. Hogan

Abstract The objective of this study was to identify group-level health outcomes associated with the 2013 Calgary flood on Calgary participants (45–85 years of age) in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). We compared baseline CLSA data collected on Calgary participants during the 6 months prior to and following the flood. Logistic regression models were created to explore whether select psychological outcomes were associated with the flood for participants categorized by evacuation status. Participants living in evacuated communities pre-flood had significantly lower levels of a diagnosed anxiety disorder than non-evacuated communities, which disappeared post-flood. Participants with higher household income were less likely to have post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, worse self-rated mental health, and lower life satisfaction post-flood. Living alone reduced and female gender increased levels of perceived functional social support post-flood. Although natural disasters can shape research findings, the scope of the data being collected and the representativeness of impacted groups may challenge the ability to detect subtle impacts.

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-222
Author(s):  
Nandang Rusmana ◽  
Anne Hafina ◽  
Dodi Suryana

Background: This study was motivated by the failure of coping and adaptation to traumatic experiences that cause a wide, deep, and long-term snowball effect that may not be reversible. Objective: This study aims to test the effectiveness of the implementation of group play therapy in dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) victims of natural disasters in three provinces in Indonesia. Materials and Methods: The study employed an explanatory mixed methods design. The procedures and steps taken in this study refer to the research and development cycle. The subjects and objects of the study were 106 male and 92 female preadolescent students of junior high school in three provinces in Indonesia. Results: Traumatic counselling through group play therapy techniques has the effect of reducing post-traumatic stress disorder on victims of the tsunami disaster in three provinces in Indonesia. The first study conducted in Lombok West Nusa Tenggara province obtained the results of the calculation of the value μ2 = 0.021 for the value of μ1> 0.05. The second study in Palu, Central Sulawesi Province obtained the results of the calculation of the value of μ2 = 0.018 for the value of μ1> 0.05, and the third study in Anyer, Banten province obtained the results of the calculation of the value of µ2 = 0.011 for the value of µ1 > 0.05. Conclusion: Teaching and practising the skills of traumatic counselling using using Group Play Therapy can handle PTSD victims of natural disasters that significantly change victims.


2019 ◽  
Vol 50 ◽  
pp. 5-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanne Birgit Alfheim ◽  
Kristin Hofsø ◽  
Milada Cvancarova Småstuen ◽  
Kirsti Tøien ◽  
Leiv Arne Rosseland ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 440-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei-Sheng Huang ◽  
Ju-Wei Hsu ◽  
Kai-Lin Huang ◽  
Ya-Mei Bai ◽  
Tung-Ping Su ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Zohreh Mahmoodi ◽  
Kian Javadi Koshesh ◽  
Ghaffar Almasi ◽  
Safura Pournajaf ◽  
Hadith Rastad ◽  
...  

Background: Psychological problems, such as post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), are among the most important complications associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in people. Studying the social determinants of health (SDH) and its impact on the populations during the crisis will help governments deal better with health emergencies so that every person can have an equal opportunity to stay healthy. Objective: To determine what factors affect PTSS, we conducted a study to investigate the association between structural determinants of health and PTSS during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 370 people referred to a selected laboratory between June and July 2020 in Karaj province, Iran. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 8-item inventory was used to evaluate the PTSS and its subscales, including intrusion, avoidance, and hypervigilance in the participants. Results: Overall, 51.2% of participants were male, and 17.3% were positive for the IgM or IgG COVID-19 test. The most common symptoms in these patients were weakness, myalgia, cough, anosmia, and fever. The prevalence of total PTSS, intrusion, avoidance, and hypervigilance symptoms were 7.1%, 25.7%, 41.6%, and 16.2%, respectively. In univariable regression analysis, female gender (p-value=0.01, 95%CI (2.25-0.31)), un-employment (p-value=0.011, 95%CI (0.37-2.81)), having symptoms of COVID-19 disease (p-value=0.000, 95%CI (.82-2.75)), underlying chronic disease, were directly associated with PTSS. Conclusion: Results showed that sex and occupation as structural determinants of health could affect PTSS in the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in the multivariable model, having symptoms of the COVID-19 disease and underlying disease affected PTSS.


Author(s):  
Jasim Anwar

With the ever-increasing number of natural disasters, it is important to understand the impact on the health and wellbeing of survivors, especially women. The reproductive and mental health of women contributes significantly to their overall wellbeing. The Chapter gives an overview of natural disasters with an emphasis on consequences of earthquakes of health and wellbeing of the survivors. It includes a critical review of published studies on psychological trauma and reproductive health following earthquake disasters. Among the psychological consequences of earthquakes, this chapter describes post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. The last section of this chapter reviewed reproductive health in relation to the mental health consequences following natural disasters.


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