The persistent effects of natural disaster exposure on child and adolescent psychological distress: evidence from a Hurricane Katrina displaced cohort

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: This study evaluates the association between exposure to cumulative natural disasters and psychological distress among Gulf Coast children and adolescents. METHODS: We used data from the Gulf Coast Child and Family Health Study, a longitudinal cohort displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The exposure of interest was the number of additional natural disasters the respondent had experienced. Child psychological distress was based on their caregiver endorsing one of the following in the past month: feeling sad or depressed; having problems sleeping; feeling nervous or afraid; or having problems getting along with other children. We conducted bivariate analyses followed by logistic regression, evaluating moderation by race; annual household income; parental educational attainment; household financial constraints; stable housing; family functioning; parental coping; and parental mental component score. RESULTS:Among 141 respondents with children, about 28% reported their children having psychological distress in the past month. Those respondents whose children had psychological distress experienced over twice the number of disasters, on average, than those without psychological distress (0.45 [SD 0.86] vs. 1.10 [SD 1.64]). None of the sociodemographic, vulnerability, or resilience variables significantly moderated the association between additional disaster exposure and child/adolescent psychological distress. Each additional disaster experienced by a respondent was associated with a 90% increase in the odds that his/her child exhibited symptoms of psychological distress (OR 1.90; 95% CI 1.01, 3.55). Those whose caregivers reported coping somewhat or not well at all with parenting responsibilities were over three times more likely to have psychological distress (OR 3.33; 0.11; 0.93) than those whose caregivers were coping very well. Children and adolescents in high functioning families were also significantly less likely than children in low functioning families to exhibit symptoms (OR 0.32; 95% CI 0.11, 0.93). CONCLUSIONS:These results demonstrate the persistent effects of exposure to natural disasters on child/adolescent psychological distress. KEYWORDS: Natural disasters, Children's environmental health, Mental health outcomes