The Influence of Environmental Perceptions and Mental Health on Post Disaster Resilience

Background and Purpose: An individual’s connection to their environment is evident in Southeastern Louisiana, as this area represents a major economic hub for the United States port, petroleum, and fishing industries.  The location also exposes the population to both natural and technological disasters that increase residents’ trauma exposure and impacts life on many levels, with behavioral health being particularly vulnerable.  Areas situated along the Gulf Coast are repeatedly experiencing and recovering from disasters with efforts to improve both preparedness and response being much needed.  Specifically we need to improve our understanding of behavioral health factors that influence one’s ability to bounce back after disaster.  There is an increasing amount of literature on negative health risks following disaster exposure, however little is known about how connection to one’s environment can protect against negative behavioral health effects and contribute to resilience.  The purpose of this study was to explore a model of disaster resilience, with the objective to understand the influence of disaster experiences, environmental concerns, environmental quality of life, and mental health on resilience.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data approximately 1 year following the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill.  A total of 859 residents that reported some impact from the Gulf Oil Spill and lived along the Louisiana Gulf Coast were sampled. Purposive sampling techniques were used to allow for more detailed information on individuals in the fishing, tourism, and oil/drilling-related industries and to survey populations residing or working closest to the Gulf Coast; these locations also received substantial impact from Hurricane Katrina.  The majority of participants were: married/cohabitating (61%); female (62%); over 41 years of age (54%); and reported a 2009 annual income of less than $40,000 (74%).   Reliable and well-validated measures included: Connor-Davidson Resilience; World Health Organization Quality of Life; Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; General Anxiety Disorder; and the Kessler 6 scales.    Structural Equation Modeling techniques were used to test the association among factors predicting resilience.

Results: The overall model demonstrated acceptable fit and all paths, except environmental concerns to resilience, were significant.  The largest contributors to the model are as follows: disaster experiences were predictive of both environmental quality of life and mental health.  Environmental quality of life was predictive of resilience. Environmental quality of life and mental health were predictive of resilience. 

Implications and Conclusion: To aid in disaster preparedness and response, it is important to understand all factors that contribute to one’s post disaster recovery.  If a main determinant of mental health symptoms stem from environmental perceptions and concerns, then environmental activism and participation in clean-up and recovery work may help to buffer some of the negative effects and improve community competence. In summary findings of this study can assist with understanding and identifying underutilized strengths that can be targeted following disasters, such as the perception of one’s environmental quality of life, in efforts to improve community response and resilience.