Differential Impact of Natural Disasters on Mental Health Across Racial and Ethnic Groups
S M Foysol Ahmed, Yeon Jin Choi

TL;DR
This study finds that natural disasters have a stronger negative impact on mental health for older Black individuals compared to older White individuals, highlighting the need for targeted mental health support.
Contribution
The study provides novel evidence on racial disparities in mental health outcomes following natural disaster exposure using a large, nationally representative sample.
Findings
Natural disaster exposure is associated with higher depression and anxiety levels in older adults.
Older Black individuals show significantly higher mental health impacts compared to older White individuals.
The association between disaster exposure and mental health is not significant for older Hispanic individuals.
Abstract
Natural disasters are increasing in both frequency and severity, affecting 224.1 million people globally each year. These events have profound consequences for public health and well-being, as exposure to natural disasters has been found to be associated with poor mental health outcomes. The adverse impact of natural disasters may vary across racial and ethnic groups due to their differences in socioeconomic status, trauma exposure, and access to healthcare. However, existing literature primarily focuses either on a single racial and ethnic group or broadly on affected populations, limiting our understanding of how natural disaster exposure affects mental health across diverse racial and ethnic groups. This study examines whether lifetime experience of natural disasters is associated with poor mental health and whether the impact differs across racial and ethnic groups, utilizing data…
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Taxonomy
TopicsPosttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Disaster Management and Resilience · Disaster Response and Management
