Poster #58 - Hurricane Exposure and Psychological Outcomes in Children: The Moderating Role of Gender

• In Event: 3-159 - Poster Session 12
  In Poster Session: PS 12 Section - Developmental Psychopathology

Integrative Statement

Hurricanes Irma and Maria hit the Caribbean and the United States in close succession in September 2017. In light of the devastation caused, it is important to investigate the impact of these disasters on children’s psychological functioning. Exposure to hurricane-related traumatic experiences has been shown to be a significant predictor of child post-traumatic stress (PTS) (Hensley & Varela, 2008) and internalizing symptoms (Lai, La Greca, Auslander, & Short, 2012) in children. While research has identified various factors (i.e. social support, ethnicity, academic skills) that relate to mental health outcomes in children who have experienced a hurricane (La Greca et al., 1998; La Greca et al., 2013), additional studies are necessary to understand which children may be at greatest risk for negative outcomes.
Child gender has been linked to differential psychological responses to trauma: some studies have shown that levels of exposure to traumatic experiences (i.e., community violence) are more strongly related to PTS and internalizing symptoms in girls compared to boys (Foster, Kuperminc, & Price, 2003). With regard to hurricane exposure, moderation by gender has also been demonstrated: in a study investigating the effects of Hurricane Hugo on 9-19 year olds, there were stronger associations between levels of hurricane exposure and post-disaster symptoms for girls (Lonigan et al., 1991). Further research is needed to explore how levels of hurricane exposure influence the development of negative psychological symptoms in children across different geographical and cultural contexts. The present study examines how hurricane exposure is associated with PTS and internalizing symptoms in a sample of youth from the island of St. Thomas and how this association is moderated by gender.
Data from 156 children ages 8-19 (mean age = 13.44, SD = 2.82, 59.5% female) were collected in St. Thomas 9 months post-hurricane exposure. Two subscales of the Hurricane Related Traumatic Experiences (Vernberg et al., 1996) questionnaire (i.e. perceived life threat, life threatening experiences) were examined independently to determine how type of exposure impacts symptom outcomes. Child PTS symptoms were measured using the UCLA Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index for Children/Adolescents- DSM-5 (Steinberg, et al., 2013), and child internalizing symptoms were assessed using the internalizing subscale of the youth self-report Pediatric Symptoms Checklist (Jellinek et al., 1998).
Regression analyses revealed that gender moderated the relationship between perceived life threat and both PTS (B = -15.41, p =. 01; Figure 1) and internalizing symptoms (B = -2.97, p = .004; Figure 2). Gender also moderated the relationship between life threatening experiences and both PTS (B = -7.69, p = .001) and internalizing outcomes (B = -.95, p = .03). These associations were only significant for males. Consistent with past findings, results demonstrate that the development of PTS and internalizing symptoms in children exposed to a hurricane is a function of the degree of exposure to the traumatic event. Contrary to what has been commonly found, males were more susceptible to developing PTSD and internalizing outcomes following hurricane exposure. Clinical implications and future directions will be discussed.

Authors

• Elizabeth R. Corning, Northern Illinois University
  Presenting Author

• Jacqueline M. Pabis, Northern Illinois University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Samantha R. Awada, Northern Illinois University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Lauren McNeela, Northern Illinois University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Demy Alfonso, Northern Illinois University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Elizabeth C. Shelleby, Northern Illinois University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Laura Pittman, Northern Illinois University
  Non-Presenting Author