Disaster stressors and coping with the traumatization of deadliest hurricanes in U.S. Mainland: A follow-up study

Despite the surging research in the literature on major natural hazards globally, most research to date has been cross-sectional in nature. Also, few studies have addressed human strengths. In response to the call for longitudinal studies, this secondary analysis of a two-wave survey examined the ef...

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Main Authors: Wenyi Li, Amy L. Ai, Sabrina L. Dickey
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co. Ltd. 2023-03-01
Series:Natural Hazards Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666592123000148
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author Wenyi Li
Amy L. Ai
Sabrina L. Dickey
author_facet Wenyi Li
Amy L. Ai
Sabrina L. Dickey
author_sort Wenyi Li
collection DOAJ
description Despite the surging research in the literature on major natural hazards globally, most research to date has been cross-sectional in nature. Also, few studies have addressed human strengths. In response to the call for longitudinal studies, this secondary analysis of a two-wave survey examined the effects of character strengths and coping on Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (H-KR) volunteers, alongside hazard-related factors and peritraumatic emotional responses. Wave-1 and Wave-2 surveys were conducted at three-months and six-months at five public universities in the Gulf Coast affected by the disaster. A total of 542 participants completed Wave-1 and 201 completed Wave 2 questionnaires, because only two universities were able to conduct the follow-up. Multivariate analyses revealed that the finding was partly consistent with a cross-sectional study on Hurricanes Maria and Michael (H-MM); both events are the deadliest storms in the United States (U.S.). This prospective study supported the last damage of peritraumatic negative emotions and hurricane stressors on traumatization. However, the desirable effect of trait optimism was not evident overtime, perhaps partly due to the significantly smaller number in Wave-2 survey. Also, the link between negative coping and trauma symptom was not replicated. Still, the finding may imply that early intervention for emotional responses will be important in future disaster relief.
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spelling doaj.art-91e54cbd1ed34ad1a234a6d069e759b02023-04-29T14:59:06ZengKeAi Communications Co. Ltd.Natural Hazards Research2666-59212023-03-01314248Disaster stressors and coping with the traumatization of deadliest hurricanes in U.S. Mainland: A follow-up studyWenyi Li0Amy L. Ai1Sabrina L. Dickey2Department of Educational Leadership and Learning Systems, College of Education, Stone Building, 1114 W. Call Street, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA; Corresponding author.Colleges of Social Work, Medicine (Social Medicine and Behavioral Science), and Nursing, 2570 University Center Building C, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USACollege of Nursing, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USADespite the surging research in the literature on major natural hazards globally, most research to date has been cross-sectional in nature. Also, few studies have addressed human strengths. In response to the call for longitudinal studies, this secondary analysis of a two-wave survey examined the effects of character strengths and coping on Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (H-KR) volunteers, alongside hazard-related factors and peritraumatic emotional responses. Wave-1 and Wave-2 surveys were conducted at three-months and six-months at five public universities in the Gulf Coast affected by the disaster. A total of 542 participants completed Wave-1 and 201 completed Wave 2 questionnaires, because only two universities were able to conduct the follow-up. Multivariate analyses revealed that the finding was partly consistent with a cross-sectional study on Hurricanes Maria and Michael (H-MM); both events are the deadliest storms in the United States (U.S.). This prospective study supported the last damage of peritraumatic negative emotions and hurricane stressors on traumatization. However, the desirable effect of trait optimism was not evident overtime, perhaps partly due to the significantly smaller number in Wave-2 survey. Also, the link between negative coping and trauma symptom was not replicated. Still, the finding may imply that early intervention for emotional responses will be important in future disaster relief.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666592123000148Posttraumatic stress symptoms and disordersCharacter strengthsOptimismAnd altruismHurricane stressorsPeritraumatic positive and negative emotions
spellingShingle Wenyi Li
Amy L. Ai
Sabrina L. Dickey
Disaster stressors and coping with the traumatization of deadliest hurricanes in U.S. Mainland: A follow-up study
Natural Hazards Research
Posttraumatic stress symptoms and disorders
Character strengths
Optimism
And altruism
Hurricane stressors
Peritraumatic positive and negative emotions
title Disaster stressors and coping with the traumatization of deadliest hurricanes in U.S. Mainland: A follow-up study
title_full Disaster stressors and coping with the traumatization of deadliest hurricanes in U.S. Mainland: A follow-up study
title_fullStr Disaster stressors and coping with the traumatization of deadliest hurricanes in U.S. Mainland: A follow-up study
title_full_unstemmed Disaster stressors and coping with the traumatization of deadliest hurricanes in U.S. Mainland: A follow-up study
title_short Disaster stressors and coping with the traumatization of deadliest hurricanes in U.S. Mainland: A follow-up study
title_sort disaster stressors and coping with the traumatization of deadliest hurricanes in u s mainland a follow up study
topic Posttraumatic stress symptoms and disorders
Character strengths
Optimism
And altruism
Hurricane stressors
Peritraumatic positive and negative emotions
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666592123000148
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