Lynn M. Grattan|Sparkle M. Roberts|William T. Mahan|Patrick K. McLaughlin|W. Steven Otwell|J. Glenn Morris
The Early Psychological Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Florida and Alabama Communities
University of Maryland, Baltimore|University of Maryland, Baltimore|Florida Sea Grant|University of Florida|University of Maryland, Baltimore|Florida Sea Grant|University of Florida|University of Florida
backgroundalthough public concern focused environmental impact deepwater horizon oil spill public health impact broad range coastal communities minimally knownobjectivewe sought determine acute level distress depression anxiety mechanisms adjustment coping resilience perceived risk community indirectly impacted oil spill identify extent economic loss may explain factorsmethodsusing communitybased participatory model performed standardized assessments psychological distress mood anxiety coping resilience neurocognition perceived risk residents fishing communities indirectly impacted n 71 franklin county florida directly exposed n 23 baldwin county alabama coastal oil also compared findings participants reported income stability n 47 versus spillrelated income loss n 47resultswe found significant differences community groups terms psychological distress adjustment neurocognition environmental worry residents communities displayed clinically significant depression anxiety relative stable incomes participants spillrelated income loss significantly worse scores tensionanxiety depression fatigue confusion total mood disturbance scales higher rates depression less resilient likely use behavioral disengagement coping strategyconclusionscurrent estimates human health impacts associated oil spill may underestimate psychological impact gulf coast communities experience direct exposure oil income loss spill may greater psychological health impact presence oil immediately adjacent shoreline