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Psychological Consequences of Indirect Exposure to Disaster Due to the Haiti Earthquake

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2012

James M. Shultz ,
Avi Besser ,
Fiona Kelly ,
Andrea Allen ,
Susan Schmitz ,
Vicky Hausmann ,
Louis Herns Marcelin  and
Yuval Neria
James M. Shultz*
Affiliation:
Center for Disaster & Extreme Event Preparedness (DEEP Center), University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida USA
Avi Besser
Affiliation:
Department of Behavioral Sciences, and Center for Research in Personality, Life Transitions, and Stressful Life Events, Sapir Academic College, D. N. Hof Ashkelon, Sderot, Israel
Fiona Kelly
Affiliation:
Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Edinburg, Scotland, UK
Andrea Allen
Affiliation:
School of Adult and Continuing Education, Barry University, Miami Shores, Florida USA
Susan Schmitz
Affiliation:
School of Adult and Continuing Education, Barry University, Miami Shores, Florida USA
Vicky Hausmann
Affiliation:
School of Adult and Continuing Education, Barry University, Miami Shores, Florida USA
Louis Herns Marcelin
Affiliation:
Interuniversity Institute for Research and Development, Port-au-Prince, Haiti; and Department of Anthropology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida USA
Yuval Neria
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University; and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York USA
*
Correspondence: James M. Shultz, PhD 251 174th Street #2319 Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160 USA E-mail [email protected]
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Abstract

Introduction

Few studies have focused on the mental health consequences of indirect exposure to disasters caused by naturally occurring hazards. The present study assessed indirect exposure to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti among Haitian-Americans now living in Miami; these subjects had no direct exposure to the earthquake, but retained their cultural identity, language, and connection to family and friends in Haiti.

Methods

Two months following the earthquake a sample of Haitian-Americans was surveyed inquiring about: (1) their psychological reactions to the quake; (2) types of exposures experienced by their family members and friends in Haiti; and (3) symptom levels of (a) major depression, (b) generalized anxiety disorder, (c) complicated grief, (d) mental health status, and (e) physical health status.

Results

Haitian-Americans living in Miami experienced a broad spectrum of indirect exposures to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. These exposures were strongly associated with psychological distress, trauma-related mental health consequences, and diminished health status. Most notable was the multiplicity of indirect exposures to the on-scene experiences of multiple family members and friends in Haiti.

Conclusions

Consideration should be given to the psychological impact and needs for support among indirectly-exposed populations with strong affiliation to directly-impacted victims.

Shultz JM, Besser A, Kelly F, Allen A, Schmitz S, Hausmann V, Marcelin LH, Neria Y. Psychological consequences of indirect exposure to disaster due to the Haiti earthquake. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(4):1-10.

Keywords

bereavementdisasterearthquakeevidence baseexposuremental healthpsychosocialtrauma assessment
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 27 , Issue 4 , August 2012 , pp. 359 - 368
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2012

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