Risk and protective factors for psychopathology among older versus younger adults after the 2004 Florida hurricanes.
OBJECTIVE
Previous research demonstrates increased resiliency to psychopathology after disasters among older adults. However, little is known about differences in age-based risk and protective factors for postdisaster mental illness.


METHODS
The authors used random-digit dialing methodology to survey 1,130 older adults (60+ years) and 413 younger adults residing in Florida counties directly affected by the 2004 hurricanes. Assessed risk and protective factors included demographics, social support, displacement, incurred dollar losses, perceived positive outcomes, and self-rated health status. Outcome variables included symptom counts of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition-defined posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).


RESULTS
Older adults reported fewer symptoms of PTSD, MDD, and GAD. Explanatory risk variables accounted for large proportions of variance, but differed in meaningful ways across age groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Although older adults are less symptomatic, their psychologic reactions appear more closely connected to economic consequences of disasters.
Acierno
Ron
R
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. acierno@musc.edu
Ruggiero
Kenneth J
KJ
Kilpatrick
Dean G
DG
Resnick
Heidi S
HS
Galea
Sandro
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003710:Demography; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013689:Telephone