ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Mental health disorders have an increased prevalence in communities that experienced devastating natural disasters. Maria, a category 5 hurricane, struck Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, weakening the island's power grid, destroying buildings and homes, and limiting access to water, food, and health care services. This study characterized sociodemographic and behavioral variables and their association with mental health outcomes in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. METHODS: A sample of 998 Puerto Ricans affected by Hurricane Maria was surveyed between December 2017 and September 2018. Participants completed a 5-tool questionnaire: Post-Hurricane Distress Scale, Kessler K6, Patient Health Questionnaire 9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) 7, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder checklist for DSM-V. The associations of sociodemographic variables and risk factors with mental health disorder risk outcomes were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Most respondents reported experiencing hurricane-related stressors. Urban respondents reported a higher incidence of exposure to stressors when compared to rural respondents. Low income (OR = 3.66; 95% CI = 1.34-11.400; p < 0.05) and level of education (OR = 4.38; 95% CI = 1.20-15.800; p < 0.05) were associated with increased risk for severe mental illness (SMI), while being employed was correlated with lower risk for GAD (OR = 0.48; 95% CI = 0.275-0.811; p < 0.01) and lower risk for SIM (OR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.483-0.952; p < 0.05). Abuse of prescribed narcotics was associated with an increased risk for depression (OR = 2.94; 95% CI = 1.101-7.721; p < 0.05), while illicit drug use was associated with increased risk for GAD (OR = 6.56; 95% CI = 1.414-39.54; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Findings underline the necessity for implementing a post-natural disaster response plan to address mental health with community-based social interventions.
Subject(s)
Cyclonic Storms , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic , Humans , Mental Health , Puerto Rico/epidemiology , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/epidemiology , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
El presente estudio es de tipo descriptivo correlacional, tiene como objetivo identificar la relación existente entre las estrategias de afrontamiento, los niveles de autoestima, ansiedad y depresión en un grupo de 17 pacientes adultos con diagnóstico de cáncer, para lo cual se emplearon la Escala de Autoestima de Rosemberg, la Escala Hospitalaria de Ansiedad y Depresión (HAD) y la Escala de Estrategias de Coping Modificada (EEC-M). Se obtuvo como resultado una correlación significativa entre los niveles de ansiedad y los niveles de autoestima y entre los niveles de ansiedad y las estrategias de afrontamiento de solución de problemas, reevaluación positiva y reacción agresiva. Al igual que una correlación significativa entre los niveles de depresión y las estrategias de afrontamiento de solución de problemas, negación, reacción agresiva y la expresión de la dificultad de afrontamiento.
To carry out this project a descriptive correlational design was used in order to identify the existent relationship between coping strategies, self-esteem, anxiety levels and depression in a group of 17 adult patients diagnosed with cancer. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and the modified Coping Strategies Scale (EEC-M) were applied for this purpose. This research showed the following results: A correlation between anxiety and self-esteem levels, anxiety levels and coping strategies for problem solving, positive reappraisal and aggressive reaction. Likewise, a meaningful correlation between depression levels and coping strategies for problem solving, negation, aggressive reaction and the expression of the coping difficulty were observed.