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Toxic trauma: Household water quality experiences predict posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms during the Flint, Michigan, water crisis
Author(s) -
Kruger Daniel J.,
Cupal Suzanne,
Franzen Susan P.,
Kodjebacheva Gergana,
Bailey Elder Sarah,
Key Kent D.,
Kaufman Martin M.
Publication year - 2017
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/jcop.21898
Subject(s) - tap water , water quality , environmental health , posttraumatic stress , mental health , water supply , quality (philosophy) , citizen journalism , water contamination , perception , psychiatry , medicine , psychology , contamination , political science , environmental engineering , environmental science , ecology , philosophy , epistemology , neuroscience , law , biology
We examined the relationship between perceptions of household tap water quality and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms during the Flint, Michigan, water crisis in 2015–2016. The Speak to Your Health Community Survey is a community‐based participatory component of the health surveillance system in Genesee County, Michigan. Perceptions of household tap water quality was added to the 2015–2016 survey wave after inadequate official response to concerns over water quality after a change in Flint's municipal water supply. Respondents ( N = 786) also completed a brief PTSD screening tool. We examined the relationships of perceived household tap water quality to PTSD symptomatology and positive screening criteria for PTSD, controlling for sociodemographics. Perceived tap water quality predicted PTSD symptomatology and positive screening criteria for PTSD, independent of sociodemographics. The adverse mental health impact of municipal toxic contamination may generalize to other similar environmental contamination incidents.