Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
Volume 183, Issue 6, 1995, Pages 390-397

Effects of a natural disaster on immigrants and host population (Article)

Webster R.A. , McDonald R. , Lewin T.J. , Carr V.J.*
  • a Department of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
  • b Hunter Area Health Service, PO Box 119, Wallsend, NSW, 2287, Australia
  • c Discipline of Psychiatry, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
  • d Discipline of Psychiatry, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia

Abstract

The psychosocial effects of the 1989 Newcastle earthquake on 250 immigrants from non-English-speaking backgrounds (NESB) were compared with a matched sample of 250 Australian-born subjects. The NESB subjects had higher levels of both general (General Health Questionnaire-12) and event-related (Impact of Event Scale) psychological morbidity. Furthermore, NESB females had the highest levels of distress, particularly those who were older on arrival in Australia and those who experienced high levels of disruption. The results suggest that NESB immigrants, particularly women, appear to be more at risk for developing psychological distress following a natural disaster. However, level of exposure and an avoidance coping style contributed more substantially to psychological distress than ethnicity. © 1995 by Williams & Wilkins.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Australia human Life Change Events Ethnic Groups Stress, Psychological controlled study coping behavior comparative study Adaptation, Psychological disaster Mental Disorders avoidance behavior male female Article Support, Non-U.S. Gov't major clinical study gender migration adult age Age Factors Emigration and Immigration Natural Disasters Middle Age
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0029071735&doi=10.1097%2f00005053-199506000-00007&partnerID=40&md5=334971527c652281fbe3bdff0d3a4198
DOI: 10.1097/00005053-199506000-00007
ISSN: 00223018
Cited by: 36
Original Language: English