Personality diatheses and Hurricane Sandy: effects on post-disaster depression

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Disaster Mental Health

Background:

• Diathesis-stress models suggest personality traits moderate stressor effects on depression.
• Limited research exists on personality traits as diatheses for stressful life events.
• No prior studies examined personality's role in moderating disaster exposure and depressive symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if negative emotionality (NE) and positive emotionality (PE) moderate the impact of Hurricane Sandy exposure on depressive symptoms.
• To address gaps in understanding personality's role in disaster-related mental health outcomes.

Main Methods:

• 318 women assessed for NE and PE 5 years pre-Hurricane Sandy.
• Lifetime depressive disorders assessed pre-hurricane.
• Depressive symptoms and hurricane stress exposure measured ~8 weeks post-disaster.

Main Results:

• Hurricane Sandy stress predicted increased depressive symptoms.
• This association was significant only for individuals with high NE or low PE.
• Results held after adjusting for lifetime depressive disorders.

Conclusions:

• Findings support personality's role in depression development.
• Personality traits can identify individuals vulnerable to major stressors like natural disasters.