Experiential and contextual factors associated with psychological distress in survivors of Hurricane Katrina

PURPOSE: This study examines the relationship between Hurricane-Katrina related factors and psychological distress two years post-disaster. Exposure to stressful events, institutional living, distance from home, and number of moves were examined for their impact on distress. METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-six current and former residents of New Orleans, mean age 47.9 (S.D = 13.4) completed questionnaires that included the Katrina Exposure – Occurrence Scale (r = .83) the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale – 21 item (r = .96). Linear regression models were used to examine the relationships between contextual and experiential factors and distress. RESULTS: Almost half of the respondents (44%) lived in FEMA trailers. On average participants had moved 3.7 times (SD = 3.5), lived 45.7 miles (SD = 44.65) from their homes and were exposed to 13.3 Katrina-related stressors (SD = 4.2). Mean scores for distress were 27.5 (SD = 18.24, range 0 - 63). The stepwise regression model revealed that only the level of exposure to Katrina-related stressors (&beta = .37, p = .00) and living in a FEMA camp were (&beta = .209, p = .00) were associated with distress, accounting for 19% of the variance in distress. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that institutional housing and disaster exposure are associated with distress. Therefore, preparedness and mitigation efforts could consider the appropriateness of types of emergency housing and the extent to which it is used. Additionally, more effective preparedness, mitigation and response measures might limit the number of disaster-related stressors to which disaster survivors may be exposed.