title: The impact of hurricane Katrina on the mental and physical health of low-income parents in New Orleans.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to document changes in mental and physical health among 392 low-income parents exposed to Hurricane Katrina and to explore how hurricane-related stressors and loss relate to post-Katrina well-being. The prevalence of probable serious mental illness doubled, and nearly half of the respondents exhibited probable posttraumatic stress disorder. Higher levels of hurricane-related loss and stressors were generally associated with worse health outcomes, controlling for baseline sociodemographic and health measures. Higher baseline resources predicted fewer hurricane-associated stressors, but the consequences of stressors and loss were similar regardless of baseline resources. Adverse health consequences of Hurricane Katrina persisted for a year or more and were most severe for those experiencing the most stressors and loss. Long-term health and mental health services are needed for low-income disaster survivors, especially those who experience disaster-related stressors and loss.
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2616-5199
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Princeton University.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paxson
authors.affiliation: Princeton University.
authors.forename: Cecilia Elena
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Rouse
authors.affiliation: Harvard University.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.affiliation: Washington State University.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fussell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055820:New Orleans / Q000453:epidemiology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors