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Published Online: 14 November 2016

Mental Health and Social Networks After Disaster

Richard A. Bryant, Ph.D., H. Colin Gallagher, Ph.D., Lisa Gibbs, Ph.D., Philippa Pattison, Ph.D., Colin MacDougall, Ph.D., Louise Harms, Ph.D., Karen Block, Ph.D., Elyse Baker, B.Sc., Vikki Sinnott, B.A., Greg Ireton, Ph.D., John Richardson, B.A., David Forbes, Ph.D., and Dean Lusher, Ph.D.Authors Info & Affiliations
Publication: American Journal of Psychiatry
Volume 174, Number 3
https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.15111403
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Abstract

Objective:

Although disasters are a major cause of mental health problems and typically affect large numbers of people and communities, little is known about how social structures affect mental health after a disaster. The authors assessed the extent to which mental health outcomes after disaster are associated with social network structures.

Method:

In a community-based cohort study of survivors of a major bushfire disaster, participants (N=558) were assessed for probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and probable depression. Social networks were assessed by asking participants to nominate people with whom they felt personally close. These nominations were used to construct a social network map that showed each participant’s ties to other participants they nominated and also to other participants who nominated them. This map was then analyzed for prevailing patterns of mental health outcomes.

Results:

Depression risk was higher for participants who reported fewer social connections, were connected to other depressed people, or were connected to people who had left their community. PTSD risk was higher if fewer people reported being connected with the participant, if those who felt close to the participant had higher levels of property loss, or if the participant was linked to others who were themselves not interconnected. Interestingly, being connected to other people who in turn were reciprocally close to each other was associated with a lower risk of PTSD.

Conclusions:

These findings provide the first evidence of disorder-specific patterns in relation to one’s social connections after disaster. Depression appears to co-occur in linked individuals, whereas PTSD risk is increased with social fragmentation. These patterns underscore the need to adopt a sociocentric perspective of postdisaster mental health in order to better understand the potential for societal interventions in the wake of disaster.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to American Journal of Psychiatry
Go to American Journal of Psychiatry
American Journal of Psychiatry
Volume 174 • Number 3 • March 01, 2017
Pages: 277 - 285
PubMed: 27838935

History

Received: 8 November 2015
Revision received: 23 March 2016
Revision received: 2 September 2016
Accepted: 8 September 2016
Published online: 14 November 2016
Published in print: March 01, 2017

Keywords

  1. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
  2. Mood Disorders-Unipolar
  3. Epidemiology
  4. Models/Theories of Psychiatry

Authors

Affiliations

Richard A. Bryant, Ph.D.
From the School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney; the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), University of Sydney, Sydney; the Southgate Institute for Health, Society, and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide; the Department of Social Work, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Melbourne; the Centre for Disaster Management and Public Safety, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross, Melbourne; Phoenix Australia–Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; and the Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne.
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H. Colin Gallagher, Ph.D.
From the School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney; the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), University of Sydney, Sydney; the Southgate Institute for Health, Society, and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide; the Department of Social Work, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Melbourne; the Centre for Disaster Management and Public Safety, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross, Melbourne; Phoenix Australia–Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; and the Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne.
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Lisa Gibbs, Ph.D.
From the School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney; the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), University of Sydney, Sydney; the Southgate Institute for Health, Society, and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide; the Department of Social Work, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Melbourne; the Centre for Disaster Management and Public Safety, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross, Melbourne; Phoenix Australia–Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; and the Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne.
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Philippa Pattison, Ph.D.
From the School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney; the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), University of Sydney, Sydney; the Southgate Institute for Health, Society, and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide; the Department of Social Work, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Melbourne; the Centre for Disaster Management and Public Safety, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross, Melbourne; Phoenix Australia–Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; and the Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne.
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Colin MacDougall, Ph.D.
From the School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney; the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), University of Sydney, Sydney; the Southgate Institute for Health, Society, and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide; the Department of Social Work, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Melbourne; the Centre for Disaster Management and Public Safety, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross, Melbourne; Phoenix Australia–Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; and the Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne.
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Louise Harms, Ph.D.
From the School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney; the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), University of Sydney, Sydney; the Southgate Institute for Health, Society, and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide; the Department of Social Work, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Melbourne; the Centre for Disaster Management and Public Safety, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross, Melbourne; Phoenix Australia–Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; and the Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne.
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Karen Block, Ph.D.
From the School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney; the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), University of Sydney, Sydney; the Southgate Institute for Health, Society, and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide; the Department of Social Work, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Melbourne; the Centre for Disaster Management and Public Safety, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross, Melbourne; Phoenix Australia–Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; and the Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne.
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Elyse Baker, B.Sc.
From the School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney; the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), University of Sydney, Sydney; the Southgate Institute for Health, Society, and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide; the Department of Social Work, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Melbourne; the Centre for Disaster Management and Public Safety, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross, Melbourne; Phoenix Australia–Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; and the Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne.
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Vikki Sinnott, B.A.
From the School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney; the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), University of Sydney, Sydney; the Southgate Institute for Health, Society, and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide; the Department of Social Work, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Melbourne; the Centre for Disaster Management and Public Safety, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross, Melbourne; Phoenix Australia–Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; and the Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne.
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Greg Ireton, Ph.D.
From the School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney; the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), University of Sydney, Sydney; the Southgate Institute for Health, Society, and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide; the Department of Social Work, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Melbourne; the Centre for Disaster Management and Public Safety, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross, Melbourne; Phoenix Australia–Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; and the Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne.
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John Richardson, B.A.
From the School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney; the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), University of Sydney, Sydney; the Southgate Institute for Health, Society, and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide; the Department of Social Work, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Melbourne; the Centre for Disaster Management and Public Safety, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross, Melbourne; Phoenix Australia–Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; and the Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne.
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David Forbes, Ph.D.
From the School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney; the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), University of Sydney, Sydney; the Southgate Institute for Health, Society, and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide; the Department of Social Work, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Melbourne; the Centre for Disaster Management and Public Safety, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross, Melbourne; Phoenix Australia–Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; and the Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne.
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Dean Lusher, Ph.D.
From the School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney; the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), University of Sydney, Sydney; the Southgate Institute for Health, Society, and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide; the Department of Social Work, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Melbourne; the Centre for Disaster Management and Public Safety, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross, Melbourne; Phoenix Australia–Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne; and the Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne.
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Notes

Address correspondence to Dr. Bryant ([email protected]).

Competing Interests

The authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests.

Funding Information

Australian Research Council10.13039/501100000923: LP100200164
Supported by an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant (LP100200164), with additional support from the Australian Red Cross, Australian Rotary Health, the Victorian Department of Health, Centrelink, Phoenix Australia–Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, and these Primary Care Partnerships: Central West Gippsland, Bendigo Loddon, North East, Outer East, Lower Hume, and Central Hume.

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