Displacement during Hurricane Sandy: The impact on mental health

Rebecca M. Schwartz, PhD; Rehana Rasul, MA; Samantha M. Kerath, MS; Alexis R. Watson, BS; Wil Lieberman-Cribbin, MPH; Bian Liu, PhD; Emanuela Taioli, MD, PhD

doi:10.5055/jem.2018.0350

Authors

Rebecca M. Schwartz, PhD
Rehana Rasul, MA
Samantha M. Kerath, MS
Alexis R. Watson, BS
Wil Lieberman-Cribbin, MPH
Bian Liu, PhD
Emanuela Taioli, MD, PhD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2018.0350

Keywords:

displacement, hurricane, mental health, PTSD, temporary housing

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effect of displacement due to Hurricane Sandy on mental health outcomes among residents of the greater New York City (NYC) area.

Design: Prospective, cross sectional.

Setting: NYC area residents, including Queens, Staten Island, and Long Island.

Participants: In a 4.25 year period (June 2012 to September 2016), a convenience sample of 1,615 adult residents from the greater NYC area completed validated measures of hurricane exposure (including displacement), perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as well as indicators of alcohol, illicit substance, and tobacco use.

Main Outcome Measures: Perceived stress, depression, anxiety and PTSD symptoms and alcohol, illicit substance, and tobacco use.

Results: Multivariable analyses indicated that displaced participants were more likely to have PTSD (adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.21, 95%CI: 1.73-2.82), depression (AOR: 1.37, 95%CI: 1.05-1.79) and anxiety symptoms (AOR: 1.30, 95%CI: 1.01-1.67) and had a 1.16 unit increase in perceived stress score (SE = 0.38) compared to nondisplaced participants. Staying with friends/family vs. at a shelter was significantly associated with a 48 percent decreased odds of having PTSD symptoms (AOR: 0.52, 95%CI: 0.31-0.88) and of being a current tobacco user (AOR: 0.52, 95%CI: 0.30-0.92).

Conclusions: Displacement is associated with negative mental health outcomes, particularly displacement to shelters. Disaster preparedness efforts should involve increasing mental health resources to those who are displaced and providing support services within the shelter setting.

Author Biographies

Rebecca M. Schwartz, PhD

Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Great Neck, New York; Department of Population Health Science and Policy and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Stony Brook University – Mount Sinai Center for Trauma, Disaster Mental Health and Resilience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York

Rehana Rasul, MA

Department of Biostatistics, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York

Samantha M. Kerath, MS

Biomedical Science, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York

Alexis R. Watson, BS

Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwell Health, Great Neck, New York

Wil Lieberman-Cribbin, MPH

Department of Population Health Science and Policy and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York

Bian Liu, PhD

Department of Population Health Science and Policy and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York

Emanuela Taioli, MD, PhD

Department of Population Health Science and Policy and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Stony Brook University – Mount Sinai Center for Trauma, Disaster Mental Health and Resilience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York

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