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This chapter summarizes the current state of the literature relating to each of the disaster phases across a wide range of variables, including sociocultural factors and environment and community resources. Social networks among racial/ethnic minority cultures can be a significant protective factor against adverse mental health consequences, and the emphasis on social networks among many racial/ethnic minority cultures appears to also influence evacuation efforts. Differences in risk perception between minority and majority populations contribute to differences in disaster exposure. A variety of cultural beliefs appear to affect individuals in pre- and peridisaster phases. Several factors have an impact on marginalized populations' postdisaster mental health outcomes. Environmental and community resources suggest that limited or lack of resources appears to significantly impact disaster-response in marginalized populations. The chapter further discusses the implications for research, disaster-response efforts, and practice.
This chapter presents an introduction to the physical health problems following disasters as well as disaster studies. The majority of studies after traumatic events such as disasters have focused on psychological problems, such as depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and they have shown a positive relation between exposure to traumatic stress and psychopathology. Several studies have examined the prevalence of specific symptoms among survivors of disasters. The mean number of physical symptoms was compared between survivors of a disaster and a control group. Although risk factors for psychological problems after exposure to traumatic stress have been investigated in many studies after disasters, only a few risk factors for physical symptoms have been examined after several disasters. Risk factors for physical symptoms after disasters can be divided into predisaster factors, disaster-related factors and postdisaster factors.
There are few prospective studies on risk factors for health problems after disasters in which actual pre-disaster health data are available.
Aims
To examine whether survivors' personal characteristics, and pre-disaster psychological problems, and disaster-related variables, are related to their post-disaster health.
Method
Two studies were combined: a longitudinal survey using the electronic medical records of survivors' general practitioners (GPs), from 1 year before to 1 year after the disaster, and a survey in which questionnaires were filled in by survivors, 3 weeks and 18 months after the disaster. Data from both surveys and the electronic medical records were available for 994 survivors.
Results
After adjustment for demographic and disaster-related variables, pre-existing psychological problems were significantly associated with post-disaster self-reported health problems and post-disaster problems presented to the GP. This association was found for both psychological and physical post-disaster problems.
Conclusions
In trying to prevent long-term health consequences after disaster, early attention to survivors with pre-existing psychological problems, and to those survivors who are forced to relocate or are exposed to many stressors during the disaster, appears appropriate.
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