Southern Medical Journal
Volume 109, Issue 8, 2016, Pages 458-464

Mental Health Impact of Hosting Disaster Refugees: Analyses from a Random Sample Survey among Haitians Living in Miami (Article)

Messiah A.* , Lacoste J. , Gokalsing E. , Shultz J.M. , Rodríguez De La Vega P. , Castro G. , Acuna J.M.
  • a INSERM U-1178 Mental Health and Public Health, Hôpital Paul Brousse, 16 Avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier, Villejuif Cedex, F-94807, France, Center for Disaster and Extreme Event Preparedness, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States, Department of Medical and Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, United States
  • b INSERM U-1178 Mental Health and Public Health, Hôpital Paul Brousse, 16 Avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier, Villejuif Cedex, F-94807, France, Center for Disaster and Extreme Event Preparedness, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States, Department of Medical and Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, United States
  • c INSERM U-1178 Mental Health and Public Health, Hôpital Paul Brousse, 16 Avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier, Villejuif Cedex, F-94807, France, Center for Disaster and Extreme Event Preparedness, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States, Department of Medical and Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, United States
  • d INSERM U-1178 Mental Health and Public Health, Hôpital Paul Brousse, 16 Avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier, Villejuif Cedex, F-94807, France, Center for Disaster and Extreme Event Preparedness, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States, Department of Medical and Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, United States
  • e INSERM U-1178 Mental Health and Public Health, Hôpital Paul Brousse, 16 Avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier, Villejuif Cedex, F-94807, France, Center for Disaster and Extreme Event Preparedness, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States, Department of Medical and Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, United States
  • f INSERM U-1178 Mental Health and Public Health, Hôpital Paul Brousse, 16 Avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier, Villejuif Cedex, F-94807, France, Center for Disaster and Extreme Event Preparedness, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States, Department of Medical and Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, United States
  • g INSERM U-1178 Mental Health and Public Health, Hôpital Paul Brousse, 16 Avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier, Villejuif Cedex, F-94807, France, Center for Disaster and Extreme Event Preparedness, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States, Department of Medical and Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, United States

Abstract

Objectives Studies on the mental health of families hosting disaster refugees are lacking. This study compares participants in households that hosted 2010 Haitian earthquake disaster refugees with their nonhost counterparts. Methods A random sample survey was conducted from October 2011 through December 2012 in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Haitian participants were assessed regarding their 2010 earthquake exposure and impact on family and friends and whether they hosted earthquake refugees. Using standardized scores and thresholds, they were evaluated for symptoms of three common mental disorders (CMDs): posttraumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder (MDD). Results Participants who hosted refugees (n = 51) had significantly higher percentages of scores beyond thresholds for MDD than those who did not host refugees (n = 365) and for at least one CMD, after adjusting for participants' earthquake exposures and effects on family and friends. Conclusions Hosting refugees from a natural disaster appears to elevate the risk for MDD and possibly other CMDs, independent of risks posed by exposure to the disaster itself. Families hosting refugees deserve special attention. © Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Author Keywords

Haiti Health surveys Mental health Refugees Disaster

Index Keywords

household refugee randomization mental health human epidemiology Refugees middle aged friend controlled study Anxiety Disorders disaster ethnology Mental Disorders Haitian Haiti Surveys and Questionnaires Florida Humans family psychology earthquake Earthquakes male female Disasters questionnaire scoring system Article major clinical study adult posttraumatic stress disorder generalized anxiety disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Depressive Disorder, Major major depression
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84982913894&doi=10.14423%2fSMJ.0000000000000502&partnerID=40&md5=857b3ab1025da514ae6e67483a1e97ad
DOI: 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000000502
ISSN: 00384348
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English