Citation

Kaufman JA, Goldman ZE, Sharpe JD, Wolkin AF, Gribble MO. J. Environ. Psychol. 2019; 65: e101329.

Affiliation

Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Academic Press)

DOI

10.1016/j.jenvp.2019.101329

PMID

31607770

PMCID

PMC6788640

Abstract

Prior studies of oil spills have reported adverse impacts on mental health, but have not examined some potentially important moderators. In this cross-sectional analysis of n=38,361 responses to the 2010-2011 Gulf States Population Survey, we assessed the association of direct oil contact with depression severity following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and modification by self-mastery, emotional support, and cleanup participation using Tobit regression models accounting for the complex survey design. Oil contact was associated with increased depression severity. Among respondents with oil contact, depression was more severe for those reporting lower self-mastery. However, respondents with oil contact had lower depression severity if they participated in cleanup efforts, compared to exposed individuals who did not participate. This potential protective effect was larger for respondents with lower self-mastery. Our results are consistent with the notion that participation in recovery efforts may reduce depressive symptoms following oil spills among impacted individuals.

Language: en

Keywords

Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System (BRFSS); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Gulf States Population Survey (GSPS); disaster recovery; emergency response; epidemiology