Abstract
Background and Objectives: This study assessed the psychological impacts of six weeks of smoke exposure from the 2014 Hazelwood open-cut coalmine fire in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria, Australia, between two and three years after the incident. Design and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of adults investigated outcomes for the most exposed community, Morwell (n = 3091), compared with a similar, but minimally exposed community, Sale (n = 960). Adopting a mixed-methods research approach, 26 interviews with Morwell residents further examined qualities of the experience. Results: Morwell residents scored significantly higher on the Impact of Event Scale–Revised (difference = 6.53; 95%CI: 5.37, 7.35, p < 0.001) and Kessler 10-item general distress scale (difference = 1.69; 95%CI: 1.05, 2.33, p < 0.001). More than two years after the mine fire, Morwell residents reported moderate levels of distress related to the incident. This impact was also evident in interviews, where intrusive thoughts were the most frequently reported symptom of posttraumatic stress. Furthermore, interviews highlighted the vulnerability of people with pre-existing mental health concerns. Conclusions: The elevated psychological distress apparent within the Morwell community over two years after an extended pollution event highlights the need to improve post-incident recovery responses to such events, particularly for supporting residents that are more vulnerable.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Anxiety, Stress and Coping |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 2019 |
Keywords
- bushfires
- disaster
- Hazelwood coalmine fire
- Posttraumatic stress disorder
- smoke exposure
Cite this
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A mixed-methods study of psychological distress following an environmental catastrophe : the case of the Hazelwood open-cut coalmine fire in Australia. / Maybery, Darryl; Jones, Rebecca; Dipnall, Joanna F.; Berger, Emily; Campbell, Timothy; McFarlane, Alexander; Carroll, Matthew.
In: Anxiety, Stress and Coping, 2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - A mixed-methods study of psychological distress following an environmental catastrophe
T2 - the case of the Hazelwood open-cut coalmine fire in Australia
AU - Maybery, Darryl
AU - Jones, Rebecca
AU - Dipnall, Joanna F.
AU - Berger, Emily
AU - Campbell, Timothy
AU - McFarlane, Alexander
AU - Carroll, Matthew
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Background and Objectives: This study assessed the psychological impacts of six weeks of smoke exposure from the 2014 Hazelwood open-cut coalmine fire in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria, Australia, between two and three years after the incident. Design and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of adults investigated outcomes for the most exposed community, Morwell (n = 3091), compared with a similar, but minimally exposed community, Sale (n = 960). Adopting a mixed-methods research approach, 26 interviews with Morwell residents further examined qualities of the experience. Results: Morwell residents scored significantly higher on the Impact of Event Scale–Revised (difference = 6.53; 95%CI: 5.37, 7.35, p < 0.001) and Kessler 10-item general distress scale (difference = 1.69; 95%CI: 1.05, 2.33, p < 0.001). More than two years after the mine fire, Morwell residents reported moderate levels of distress related to the incident. This impact was also evident in interviews, where intrusive thoughts were the most frequently reported symptom of posttraumatic stress. Furthermore, interviews highlighted the vulnerability of people with pre-existing mental health concerns. Conclusions: The elevated psychological distress apparent within the Morwell community over two years after an extended pollution event highlights the need to improve post-incident recovery responses to such events, particularly for supporting residents that are more vulnerable.
AB - Background and Objectives: This study assessed the psychological impacts of six weeks of smoke exposure from the 2014 Hazelwood open-cut coalmine fire in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria, Australia, between two and three years after the incident. Design and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of adults investigated outcomes for the most exposed community, Morwell (n = 3091), compared with a similar, but minimally exposed community, Sale (n = 960). Adopting a mixed-methods research approach, 26 interviews with Morwell residents further examined qualities of the experience. Results: Morwell residents scored significantly higher on the Impact of Event Scale–Revised (difference = 6.53; 95%CI: 5.37, 7.35, p < 0.001) and Kessler 10-item general distress scale (difference = 1.69; 95%CI: 1.05, 2.33, p < 0.001). More than two years after the mine fire, Morwell residents reported moderate levels of distress related to the incident. This impact was also evident in interviews, where intrusive thoughts were the most frequently reported symptom of posttraumatic stress. Furthermore, interviews highlighted the vulnerability of people with pre-existing mental health concerns. Conclusions: The elevated psychological distress apparent within the Morwell community over two years after an extended pollution event highlights the need to improve post-incident recovery responses to such events, particularly for supporting residents that are more vulnerable.
KW - bushfires
KW - disaster
KW - Hazelwood coalmine fire
KW - Posttraumatic stress disorder
KW - smoke exposure
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85075390331&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10615806.2019.1695523
DO - 10.1080/10615806.2019.1695523
M3 - Article
JO - Anxiety, Stress and Coping
JF - Anxiety, Stress and Coping
SN - 1061-5806
ER -