Effect of hurricanes on mental health and resiliency/ recovery of residents in coastal North Carolina

ECSU Author/Contributor (non-ECSU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Ye Oo, student (Creator)
Kulwinder Kaur-Walker, Professor (Contributor)
Institution
Elizabeth City State University (ECSU )
Web Site: https://www.ecsu.edu/academics/library/index.html

Abstract: I observed the factors associated with mental health resiliency in residents living in Northeastern Coastal North Carolina due to environmental disasters such as hurricanes and tornadoes. Researchers in the Psychology department teamed up with the Department of Homeland Security and investigated the relationship between those affected by recent and past hurricanes and their mental health needs whether met or not. Past research shows that higher levels of exposure to disasters are associated with higher levels of distress and individual level of experiencing such distress is associated mainly with their status in terms of gender, age, and ethnicity (Fergusson, Boden, & Horwood, 2014; Kousky, 2016). Post-Hurricane Health Effect Assessment (PHHEA) was distributed to participants who resided in the hurricane-affected counties in northeastern North Carolina via Qualtrics survey link by posting the announcement at social media sites and emails to acquaintances to share the link. The questionnaire responses were analyzed using SPSS version 27 and the results supported the hypothesis that the residents in hurricane-affected areas experience mental health and substance abuse issues and in remote areas, they do not have appropriate and accessible mental health services. Administrations at county and higher levels need to pay attention to an important aspect of their community to bring resilience.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2021
Keywords
mental health, resiliency, hurricane recovery, natural disasters

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