Yuval Palgi1, Amit Shrira2, Yaira Hamama-Raz3, Sharon Palgi4, Robin Goodwin5, Menachem Ben-Ezra3. 1. Department of Gerontology, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: ypalgi@research.haifa.ac.il. 2. The Interdisciplinary Department of Social Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Israel. 3. School of Social Work, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel. 4. Rambam Medical Center and the Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Israel. 5. School of Social Sciences, Brunel University, Uxbridge, United Kingdom.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The present study examined whether recollections of the World Trade Center (WTC) terror attack and previous hurricanes moderated the relationship between exposure to Hurricane Sandy and related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. METHODS: An online sample of 1000 participants from affected areas completed self-report questionnaires a month after Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast of the United States. Participants reported their exposure to Hurricane Sandy, their PTSD symptoms, and recollections of the WTC terror attack and previous hurricanes elicited due to Hurricane Sandy. RESULTS: Exposure to Hurricane Sandy was related to PTSD symptoms among those with high level of recollections of the WTC terror attack and past hurricanes, but not among those with low level of recollections. CONCLUSIONS: The aftermath of exposure to Hurricane Sandy is related not only to exposure, but also to its interaction with recollections of past traumas. These findings have theoretical and practical implications for practitioners and health policy makers in evaluating and interpreting the impact of past memories on future natural disasters. This may help in intervention plans of social and psychological services.
BACKGROUND: The present study examined whether recollections of the World Trade Center (WTC) terror attack and previous hurricanes moderated the relationship between exposure to Hurricane Sandy and related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. METHODS: An online sample of 1000 participants from affected areas completed self-report questionnaires a month after Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast of the United States. Participants reported their exposure to Hurricane Sandy, their PTSD symptoms, and recollections of the WTC terror attack and previous hurricanes elicited due to Hurricane Sandy. RESULTS: Exposure to Hurricane Sandy was related to PTSD symptoms among those with high level of recollections of the WTC terror attack and past hurricanes, but not among those with low level of recollections. CONCLUSIONS: The aftermath of exposure to Hurricane Sandy is related not only to exposure, but also to its interaction with recollections of past traumas. These findings have theoretical and practical implications for practitioners and health policy makers in evaluating and interpreting the impact of past memories on future natural disasters. This may help in intervention plans of social and psychological services.
Authors: Rebecca M Schwartz; Christina N Gillezeau; Bian Liu; Wil Lieberman-Cribbin; Emanuela Taioli Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2017-08-24 Impact factor: 3.390