Racial Differences in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Vulnerability Following Hurricane Katrina Among a Sample of Adult Cigarette Smokers from New Orleans

Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities
Adam C AlexanderKenneth D Ward

Abstract

Although blacks are more likely than whites to experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a natural disaster, the reasons for this disparity are unclear. This study explores whether race is associated with PTSD after adjusting for differences in preexisting vulnerabilities, exposure to stressors, and loss of social support due to Hurricane Katrina using a representative sample of 279 black and white adult current and past smokers who were present when Hurricane Katrina struck, and identified it as the most traumatic event in their lifetime. Multiple logistic regression models evaluated whether differential vulnerability (pre-hurricane physical and mental health functioning, and education level), differential exposure to hurricane-related stressors, and loss of social support deterioration reduced the association of race with PTSD. Blacks were more likely than whites to screen positive for PTSD (49 vs. 39 %, respectively, p = 0.030). Although blacks reported greater pre-hurricane vulnerability (worse mental health functioning and lower educational attainment) and hurricane-related stressor exposure and had less social support after the hurricane, only pre-hurricane mental health functioning attenuated the association ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Apr 18, 2019·Journal of Interpersonal Violence·Maria M GalanoSandra A Graham-Bermann
Feb 27, 2020·Translational Neurodegeneration·Maria B MisiuraWilliam T Hu
May 14, 2020·Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology·Wil Lieberman-CribbinEmanuela Taioli
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Apr 21, 2021·Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology·Wil Lieberman-CribbinEmanuela Taioli

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