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Study Design and Results of a Population-Based Study on Perceived Stress Following Hurricane Sandy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2015

Rebecca Schwartz ,
Bian Liu ,
Cristina Sison ,
Samantha M. Kerath ,
Trista Breil ,
Lisa Murphy  and
Emanuela Taioli
Rebecca Schwartz
Affiliation:
North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Manhasset, New York, and Hofstra North Shore-Long Island Jewish School of Medicine
Bian Liu
Affiliation:
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Population Health Science and Policy, and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, New York, New York
Cristina Sison
Affiliation:
The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Biostatistics Unit, Manhasset, New York
Samantha M. Kerath
Affiliation:
The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Manhasset, New York
Trista Breil
Affiliation:
Nassau County Department of Human Services, Manhasset, New York.
Lisa Murphy
Affiliation:
Nassau County Department of Human Services, Manhasset, New York.
Emanuela Taioli*
Affiliation:
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Population Health Science and Policy, and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, New York, New York
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Emanuela Taioli, MD, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Population Health Science and Policy, and Institute for Translational Epidemiology 1425 Madison Ave, Suite 70, New York, NY, 10029 (e-mail: taiolema@gmail.com).
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Abstract

Objective

Hurricane Sandy was one of the deadliest storms in US history, with at least 162 deaths and numerous injuries. This research aimed to quantify the impact of Hurricane Sandy on the New York metropolitan area.

Methods

The project included 601 volunteers aged at least 18 years who were recruited in Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Richmond counties and Staten Island between 2013 and 2014 through close partnerships with coalition community leaders. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire on demographics and behavioral factors and a 35-point check off list on hurricane exposure. Perceived stress was assessed by using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS).

Results

Participants had a mean stress score of 15.6 (SD=7.3; vs general population mean of 13.0), with 30.14% of the sample categorized as “high stress” (mean≥20). In the multivariable regression analysis, age was significantly negatively associated with PSS score. A reported history of mental health issues, Hispanic ethnicity, and overall exposure to Hurricane Sandy were statistically significantly associated with PSS score in a positive direction.

Conclusions

Perceived stress was high in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy and was significantly associated with individual hurricane exposure. This study is a first step toward defining what segments of the population are more vulnerable and informing intervention and emergency preparedness efforts. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;10:325–332)

Keywords

mental disordersepidemiological monitoringdisaster medicine
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 10 , Special Issue 3: Superstorm Sandy , June 2016 , pp. 325 - 332
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2015 

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