Hurricane exposure, personality traits, and perceived changes in health and health behaviors

Abstract

Using data from a retrospective pre-/post-longitudinal study of young adults impacted by Hurricane Harvey in 2017 (N = 330), we investigated the main and moderating effects of hurricane exposure and the Big Five personality traits on perceived changes in health and health behaviors. Linear regressions showed that more hurricane exposure was associated with worse perceived diet changes. People who were more extraverted tended to perceive better health changes, whereas people who were more neurotic tended to perceive worse overall health, sleep, diet, and exercise changes. The association between hurricane exposure and perceived diet changes was stronger for people higher in conscientiousness, such that at high levels of hurricane exposure, people who were more conscientious tended to perceive the worst diet changes.