TY - JOUR
T1 - Mental Health Effects of Hurricane Sandy on Older Adults
AU - Corley, Samantha S.
AU - Ornstein, Katherine A.
AU - Rasul, Rehana
AU - Lieberman-Cribbin, Wil
AU - Maisel, Hayley
AU - Taioli, Emanuela
AU - Schwartz, Rebecca M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.
PY - 2022/4
Y1 - 2022/4
N2 - Objectives: To examine whether hurricane exposure, lack of access to medical care (LAMC), and displacement during Hurricane Sandy were associated with PTSD and other mental health (MH) symptoms among older adult New York residents. Methods: Participants (N = 411) were ≥60 years old at the time of survey data collection (1–4 years post-Sandy). Outcomes included PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms and stress. Hurricane exposure, displacement, and LAMC were primary predictors. Results: Older adults with greater hurricane exposure had increased PTSD, anxiety, and stress symptoms. LAMC had a strong association (ORadj = 4.11) with PTSD symptoms but was not associated with other MH symptoms. Displacement was not associated with MH outcomes. Discussion: This is the first study to examine exposure, displacement, and LAMC together and to examine their varying impacts on different MH outcomes among older adults post-hurricane. Findings support the importance of disaster preparedness interventions tailored to the MH needs of community-dwelling older adults.
AB - Objectives: To examine whether hurricane exposure, lack of access to medical care (LAMC), and displacement during Hurricane Sandy were associated with PTSD and other mental health (MH) symptoms among older adult New York residents. Methods: Participants (N = 411) were ≥60 years old at the time of survey data collection (1–4 years post-Sandy). Outcomes included PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms and stress. Hurricane exposure, displacement, and LAMC were primary predictors. Results: Older adults with greater hurricane exposure had increased PTSD, anxiety, and stress symptoms. LAMC had a strong association (ORadj = 4.11) with PTSD symptoms but was not associated with other MH symptoms. Displacement was not associated with MH outcomes. Discussion: This is the first study to examine exposure, displacement, and LAMC together and to examine their varying impacts on different MH outcomes among older adults post-hurricane. Findings support the importance of disaster preparedness interventions tailored to the MH needs of community-dwelling older adults.
KW - access to care
KW - anxiety
KW - geriatrics
KW - mental health
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85119141760&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/07334648211052992
DO - 10.1177/07334648211052992
M3 - Article
C2 - 34752154
AN - SCOPUS:85119141760
SN - 0733-4648
VL - 41
SP - 1131
EP - 1142
JO - Journal of Applied Gerontology
JF - Journal of Applied Gerontology
IS - 4
ER -