Resilience after hurricane Katrina among pregnant and postpartum women.
BACKGROUND
Although disaster causes distress, many disaster victims do not develop long-term psychopathology. Others report benefits after traumatic experiences (posttraumatic growth). The objective of this study was to examine demographic and hurricane-related predictors of resilience and posttraumatic growth.


METHODS
We interviewed 222 pregnant southern Louisiana women and 292 postpartum women completed interviews at delivery and 8 weeks later. Resilience was measured by scores lower than a nonaffected population, using the Edinburgh Depression Scale and the Post-Traumatic Stress Checklist. Posttraumatic growth was measured by questions about perceived benefits of the storm. Women were asked about their experience of the hurricane, addressing danger, illness/injury, and damage. Chi-square tests and log-Poisson models were used to calculate associations and relative risks for demographics, hurricane experience, and mental health resilience and perceived benefit.


RESULTS
Thirty-five percent of pregnant and 34% of the postpartum women were resilient from depression, whereas 56% and 49% were resilient from posttraumatic stress disorder. Resilience was most likely among White women, older women, and women who had a partner. A greater experience of the storm, particularly injury/illness or danger, was associated with lower resilience. Experiencing damage because of the storm was associated with increased report of some perceived benefits.


CONCLUSIONS
Many pregnant and postpartum women are resilient from the mental health consequences of disaster, and perceive benefits after a traumatic experience. Certain aspects of experiencing disaster reduce resilience, but may increase perceived benefit.
Harville
Emily W
EW
Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. harville@tulane.edu
Xiong
Xu
X
Buekens
Pierre
P
Pridjian
Gabriella
G
Elkind-Hirsch
Karen
K
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008429:Maternal Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult