title: Racial Differences in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Vulnerability Following Hurricane Katrina Among a Sample of Adult Cigarette Smokers from New Orleans.
abstract: Although blacks are more likely than whites to experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a natural disaster, the reasons for this disparity are unclear. This study explores whether race is associated with PTSD after adjusting for differences in preexisting vulnerabilities, exposure to stressors, and loss of social support due to Hurricane Katrina using a representative sample of 279 black and white adult current and past smokers who were present when Hurricane Katrina struck, and identified it as the most traumatic event in their lifetime. Multiple logistic regression models evaluated whether differential vulnerability (pre-hurricane physical and mental health functioning, and education level), differential exposure to hurricane-related stressors, and loss of social support deterioration reduced the association of race with PTSD. Blacks were more likely than whites to screen positive for PTSD (49 vs. 39 %, respectively, p = 0.030). Although blacks reported greater pre-hurricane vulnerability (worse mental health functioning and lower educational attainment) and hurricane-related stressor exposure and had less social support after the hurricane, only pre-hurricane mental health functioning attenuated the association of race with screening positive for PTSD. Thus, racial differences in pre-hurricane functioning, particularly poorer mental health, may partially explain racial disparities in PTSD after natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina. Future studies should examine these associations prospectively using representative cohorts of black and whites and include measures of residential segregation and discrimination, which may further our understanding of racial disparities in PTSD after a natural disaster.
authors.affiliation: Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152-3450, USA.
authors.forename: Adam C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, 400 Innovation Drive, Memphis, TN, 38152-3450, USA.
authors.forename: Jeanelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, 400 Innovation Drive, Memphis, TN, 38152-3450, USA.
authors.forename: Meghan E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: McDevitt-Murphy
authors.affiliation: Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice, University of North Florida, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Forde
authors.affiliation: School of Health Studies, University of Memphis, 106 Fieldhouse, Memphis, TN, 38152-3450, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stockton
authors.affiliation: Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152-3450, USA.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Read
authors.affiliation: Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152-3450, USA. kdward@memphis.edu.
authors.forename: Kenneth D
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8972-538X
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055820:New Orleans / Q000453:epidemiology; D000074285:Smokers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000208:ethnology*; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Exposure; Hurricane Katrina; PTSD; Racial disparity; Social support; Vulnerability
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