Displacement during Hurricane Sandy: The impact on mental health

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca M. Schwartz, PhD ◽  
Rehana Rasul, MA ◽  
Samantha M. Kerath, MS ◽  
Alexis R. Watson, BS ◽  
Wil Lieberman-Cribbin, MPH ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Illicit Substance ◽  
The Impact

Objective: To assess the effect of displacement due to Hurricane Sandy on mental health outcomes among residents of the greater New York City (NYC) area.Design: Prospective, cross sectional.Setting: NYC area residents, including Queens, Staten Island, and Long Island.Participants: In a 4.25 year period (June 2012 to September 2016), a convenience sample of 1,615 adult residents from the greater NYC area completed validated measures of hurricane exposure (including displacement), perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as well as indicators of alcohol, illicit substance, and tobacco use.Main Outcome Measures: Perceived stress, depression, anxiety and PTSD symptoms and alcohol, illicit substance, and tobacco use.Results: Multivariable analyses indicated that displaced participants were more likely to have PTSD (adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.21, 95%CI: 1.73-2.82), depression (AOR: 1.37, 95%CI: 1.05-1.79) and anxiety symptoms (AOR: 1.30, 95%CI: 1.01-1.67) and had a 1.16 unit increase in perceived stress score (SE = 0.38) compared to nondisplaced participants. Staying with friends/family vs. at a shelter was significantly associated with a 48 percent decreased odds of having PTSD symptoms (AOR: 0.52, 95%CI: 0.31-0.88) and of being a current tobacco user (AOR: 0.52, 95%CI: 0.30-0.92).Conclusions: Displacement is associated with negative mental health outcomes, particularly displacement to shelters. Disaster preparedness efforts should involve increasing mental health resources to those who are displaced and providing support services within the shelter setting.

scholarly journals Mental health among immigrants in Germany – the impact of self-attribution and attribution by others as an immigrant

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuriy Nesterko ◽  
Michael Friedrich ◽  
Elmar Brähler ◽  
Andreas Hinz ◽  
Heide Glaesmer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Migration Background ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background In Germany, the term ‘migration background’ has been established to differentiate between immigrants and natives. In the present study post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression were analysed in immigrant populations in Germany by considering self-attribution as well as attribution by others on one’s own ‘migration background’. Methods In a population-based survey (N = 2317), socio-demographic characteristics, migration background (official statistics definition vs. self-attribution as well as the anticipated attribution by others), PTSD (PCL-5), and symptoms of anxiety and depression (PHQ-4) were assessed. Logistic regression models were applied to predict mental health outcomes by considering socio-demographic and immigration-related factors. Results A total of 10.7% of respondents (N = 248) had a ‘migration background’. Immigrants of the 2nd generation compared to 1st generation immigrants are less likely to see themselves as immigrants. Attribution as an immigrant (self and/or by others) was found as significant predictor for PTSD and depression, but not anxiety. Conclusions It seems useful to focus on immigration-related factors considering subjective perspectives and not only comparing immigrants and natives using a federal statistics definition. Our findings suggest that research on the association between immigration-related factors such as attribution as an immigrant and mental health outcomes might be a promising approach to better identify subgroups at higher risk of mental distress.

scholarly journals Mental health among immigrants in Germany – the impact of self-attribution and attribution by others as an immigrant

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuriy Nesterko ◽  
Michael Friedrich ◽  
Elmar Brähler ◽  
Andreas Hinz ◽  
Heide Glaesmer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Migration Background ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background In Germany, the term ‘migration background' has been established to differentiate between immigrants and natives. In the present study post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression were analysed in immigrant populations in Germany by considering self-attribution as well as attribution by others on one’s own ‘migration background’. Methods In a population-based survey (N = 2317), socio-demographic characteristics, migration background (official statistics definition vs. self-attribution as well as the anticipated attribution by others), PTSD (PCL-5), symptoms of anxiety and depression (PHQ-4) were assessed. Logistic regression models were applied to predict mental health outcomes by considering socio-demographic and immigration-related factors. Results A total of 10.7% of the respondents (N = 248) had a ‘migration background’. Immigrants of the 2nd generation compared to 1st generation immigrants are less likely to see themselves as immigrants. Attribution as an immigrant (self and/or by others) was found as significant predictor for PTSD and depression, but not anxiety. Conclusions It seems useful to focus on immigration-related factors considering subjective perspectives and not only comparing immigrants and natives using a federal statistics definition. Our findings suggest that research on the association between immigration-related factors such as attribution as an immigrant and mental health outcomes might be a promising approach to better identify subgroups at higher risk of mental distress.

scholarly journals Mental health outcomes among front and second line health workers associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodolfo Rossi ◽  
Valentina Socci ◽  
Francesca Pacitti ◽  
Giorgio Di Lorenzo ◽  
Antinisca Di Marco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

AbstractIn this study, we report on mental health outcomes among health workers (HWs) involved with the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy.Data on mental health on 1379 HWs were collected between March 27th and March 31th 2020 using an on-line questionnaire spread throughout social networks, using a snowball technique along with sponsored social network advertisement. Key mental health outcomes were Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms (PTSD), severe depression, anxiety, insomnia and perceived stress.PTSD symptoms, severe depression, anxiety and insomnia, and high perceived stress were endorsed respectively by 681 (49.38%), 341 (24.73%), 273 (19.80%), 114 (8.27%) and 302 (21.90%) respondents. Regression analysis show that younger age, female gender, being a front-line HWs, having a colleague deceased, hospitalised or in quarantine were associated with poor mental health outcomes.This is the first report on mental health outcomes and associated risk factors among HWs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, confirming a substantial proportion of health workers involved with the COVID-19 pandemic having mental health issues, in particular young women, first-line HWs.

The lasting mental health effects of Hurricane Sandy on residents of the Rockaways

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca M. Schwartz, PhD ◽  
Patricia Rothenberg, BA ◽  
Samantha M. Kerath, MS ◽  
Bian Liu, PhD ◽  
Emanuela Taioli, MD, PhD
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Illicit Substance ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Hurricane Exposure

 Objective: To examine the impact of Hurricane Sandy on the mental health and substance use of residents of the Rockaways, which is a lower income, ethnically diverse region of NYC that was devastated by the hurricane. Design: Prospective, cross sectional. Setting: Rockaways, Queens, NYC community residents. Participants: From October 2013 to April 2015, 407 adult residents of the Rockaways completed self-report, validated measures of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptoms as well as indicators of substance use (alcohol, illicit substance, and tobacco use) and exposure to Hurricane Sandy. Main Outcome Measures: Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, alcohol use, illicit substance use, and tobacco use. Results: Differences in exposure scores on outcomes were compared using Wilcoxon tests. Associations between hurricane exposure (categorized into “personal” and “property” exposure) and outcomes were investigated using logistic regression, adjusting for demographic covariates, mental health history, and time since hurricane. The study participants were predominately female (57.5 percent) and black (63.9 percent) and average age was 44.7 years. Multivariable results showed that property exposure scores were positively associated with increased risks of mental health difficulties across all three mental health symptom outcomes, but not substance use. Increased personal and total exposures were also significantly associated with increased Posttraumatic Stress Disorder symptoms. Substance use variables were not significantly associated with any of the hurricane exposure indicators. Conclusions: The present study quantifies the lasting impact that Hurricane Sandy has had on the mental health of Rockaways residents indicating the need for continued recovery efforts and increased mental health service provision in this vulnerable region. 

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on mental health in Germany: longitudinal observation of different mental health trajectories and protective factors

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. F. Ahrens ◽  
R. J. Neumann ◽  
B. Kollmann ◽  
J. Brokelmann ◽  
N. M. von Werthern ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Daily Hassles ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Psychological State ◽  
Cognitive Emotion Regulation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic and resulting measures can be regarded as a global stressor. Cross-sectional studies showed rather negative impacts on people’s mental health, while longitudinal studies considering pre-lockdown data are still scarce. The present study investigated the impact of COVID-19 related lockdown measures in a longitudinal German sample, assessed since 2017. During lockdown, 523 participants completed additional weekly online questionnaires on e.g., mental health, COVID-19-related and general stressor exposure. Predictors for and distinct trajectories of mental health outcomes were determined, using multilevel models and latent growth mixture models, respectively. Positive pandemic appraisal, social support, and adaptive cognitive emotion regulation were positively, whereas perceived stress, daily hassles, and feeling lonely negatively related to mental health outcomes in the entire sample. Three subgroups (“recovered,” 9.0%; “resilient,” 82.6%; “delayed dysfunction,” 8.4%) with different mental health responses to initial lockdown measures were identified. Subgroups differed in perceived stress and COVID-19-specific positive appraisal. Although most participants remained mentally healthy, as observed in the resilient group, we also observed inter-individual differences. Participants’ psychological state deteriorated over time in the delayed dysfunction group, putting them at risk for mental disorder development. Consequently, health services should especially identify and allocate resources to vulnerable individuals.

scholarly journals Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Chatzittofis ◽  
Maria Karanikola ◽  
Kyriaki Michailidou ◽  
Anastasia Constantinidou
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Prevalence Ratio ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a great impact on healthcare workers (HCWs) that includes negative mental health outcomes, such as post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms. In this cross-sectional study, we report on mental health outcomes among HCWs in Cyprus. Data were collected between 3 May and 27 May 2020, with the use of an online questionnaire that included demographics (sex, age, occupation, education, work sector, years of work experience), the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) which assesses depressive symptoms, the Impact of Events Scale Revised (IES-R), which measures post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and the-10 item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) which quantifies stress responses. Participants (42% physicians, 24% nurses, 18% physiotherapists, 16% classified as “other”) were 58% of female gender and aged 21–76. A total of 79 (18.6%) and 62 HCWs (14.6%) reported clinically significant depressive (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) and post-traumatic stress (IES-R > 33) symptoms respectively. Nurses were more likely than physicians to suffer from depression (adjusted prevalence ratio 1.7 (1.06–2.73); p = 0.035) and PTSD (adjusted prevalence ratio 2.51 (1.49–4.23); p = 0.001). Even in a country with a rather low spread of the COVID-19, such as Cyprus, HCWs reported a substantial mental health burden, with nurses reporting increased depressive and PTSD symptoms compared to other HCWs.

Interpersonal Violence (IV) in Sport and Mental Health Outcomes in Teenagers

2021 ◽  
pp. 019372352110436
Author(s):  
Sylvie Parent ◽  
Marie-Pier Vaillancourt-Morel ◽  
Allyson Gillard
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Interpersonal Violence ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Convenience Sample

The aim of the present study was to examine the associations between interpersonal violence (IV) experienced in the context of sport by teenagers and three mental health outcomes: self-esteem, psychological distress, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. A convenience sample of 1055 French-Canadian athletes between the ages of 14 and 17 who were participating in an organized sport was recruited to participate in an online survey. Results showed that psychological violence and neglect as well as sexual violence were independently related to lower self-esteem while physical, psychological/neglect, and sexual violence were all independently related to higher psychological distress and PTSD symptoms. Early intervention programs for athletes that experience IV is critical as it may help prevent the development of subsequent mental health issues.

scholarly journals Well-Being and Perceived Stress of Adolescent Young Carers: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Wepf ◽  
Agnes Leu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Young Carers ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

AbstractAdolescent young carers have been described as a hidden group at risk of mental health problems. However, research has not yet clarified the effect of caring when considering the related family situation. We aimed to examine the impact of a caring role on adolescents’ mental health and to gain knowledge about adolescent young carers’ specific needs. We collected cross-sectional data from adolescents (15–21 years, N = 2525) recruited through educational institutions in German-speaking Switzerland. Based on self-reported answers regarding the presence or absence of a family member with health problems and youth’s caring activities, the participants were grouped into three subsamples. We compared mental health outcomes (well-being and perceived stress) in current carers and their peers, and we conducted multiple regression analyses for predicting these outcomes among all adolescents and the subsample of carers. Adolescent young carers had lower levels of well-being and higher levels of perceived stress than their peers. However, when controlling for background variables, well-being levels were lower only when carers were compared to adolescents from a healthy family background. Indicators of family instability predicted mental health outcomes independently of being a carer. More recognition for the caring role predicted better well-being and perceived stress outcomes, and more support in caring predicted better well-being but not perceived stress outcomes. The findings suggest that a caring role is not necessarily related to decreased well-being in adolescents, but it is associated with higher levels of perceived stress. The way professionals and services respond to young carers’ specific needs should be improved.

scholarly journals Mental health among immigrants in Germany – the impact of self-attribution and attribution by others as an immigrant

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuriy Nesterko ◽  
Michael Friedrich ◽  
Elmar Brähler ◽  
Andreas Hinz ◽  
Heide Glaesmer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Migration Background ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: In Germany, the term ‘migration background' has been established to differentiate between immigrants and natives. In the present study post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression were analysed in immigrant populations in Germany by considering self-attribution as well as attribution by others on one’s own ‘migration background’. Methods: In a population-based survey (N = 2317), socio-demographic characteristics, migration background (official statistics definition vs. self-attribution as well as the anticipated attribution by others), PTSD (PCL-5), and symptoms of anxiety and depression (PHQ-4) were assessed. Logistic regression models were applied to predict mental health outcomes by considering socio-demographic and immigration-related factors. Results: A total of 10.7% of respondents (N = 248) had a ‘migration background’. Immigrants of the 2nd generation compared to 1st generation immigrants are less likely to see themselves as immigrants. Attribution as an immigrant (self and/or by others) was found as significant predictor for PTSD and depression, but not anxiety. Conclusions: It seems useful to focus on immigration-related factors considering subjective perspectives and not only comparing immigrants and natives using a federal statistics definition. Our findings suggest that research on the association between immigration-related factors such as attribution as an immigrant and mental health outcomes might be a promising approach to better identify subgroups at higher risk of mental distress.

scholarly journals Mental health among immigrants in Germany – the impact of self-attribution and attribution by others as an immigrant

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuriy Nesterko ◽  
Michael Friedrich ◽  
Elmar Brähler ◽  
Andreas Hinz ◽  
Heide Glaesmer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Migration Background ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: In Germany, the term ‘migration background' has been established to differentiate between immigrants and natives. In the present study post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression were analysed in immigrant populations in Germany by considering self-attribution as well as attribution by others on one’s own ‘migration background’. Methods: In a population-based survey (N = 2317), socio-demographic characteristics, migration background (official statistics definition vs. self-attribution as well as the anticipated attribution by others), PTSD (PCL-5), and symptoms of anxiety and depression (PHQ-4) were assessed. Logistic regression models were applied to predict mental health outcomes by considering socio-demographic and immigration-related factors. Results: A total of 10.7% of respondents (N = 248) had a ‘migration background’. Immigrants of the 2nd generation compared to 1st generation immigrants are less likely to see themselves as immigrants. Attribution as an immigrant (self and/or by others) was found as significant predictor for PTSD and depression, but not anxiety. Conclusions: It seems useful to focus on immigration-related factors considering subjective perspectives and not only comparing immigrants and natives using a federal statistics definition. Our findings suggest that research on the association between immigration-related factors such as attribution as an immigrant and mental health outcomes might be a promising approach to better identify subgroups at higher risk of mental distress.

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