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Mental health problems and natural disaster: Tornado victims
Author(s) -
Penick Elizabeth C.,
Powell Barbara J.,
Sieck William A.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/1520-6629(197601)4:1<64::aid-jcop2290040103>3.0.co;2-0
Subject(s) - mental health , anxiety , natural disaster , psychiatry , psychology , interpersonal communication , tornado , medicine , clinical psychology , social psychology , geography , meteorology
Twenty‐six tornado victims were interviewed to determine the mental health consequences of a natural disaster. The results, based on retrospective accounts, indicated that approximately three‐fourths of the victims suffered increased psychological discomfort of a subjective nature five months later. This discomfort was characterized by anxiety, nervousness, and mild somatic complaints. Disruptions in interpersonal relationships among family members were less frequently reported. The disaster did not produce severe emotional impairment and few of the victims felt the need for professional mental health assistance.