Center for Disaster & Extreme Event Preparedness (DEEP Center), University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Florida, USA.
Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012 Aug;27(4):359-68. doi: 10.1017/S1049023X12001008. Epub 2012 Jul 19.
Few studies have focused on the mental health consequences of indirect exposure to disasters caused by naturally occurring hazards. The present study assessed indirect exposure to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti among Haitian-Americans now living in Miami; these subjects had no direct exposure to the earthquake, but retained their cultural identity, language, and connection to family and friends in Haiti.
Two months following the earthquake a sample of Haitian-Americans was surveyed inquiring about: (1) their psychological reactions to the quake; (2) types of exposures experienced by their family members and friends in Haiti; and (3) symptom levels of (a) major depression, (b) generalized anxiety disorder, (c) complicated grief, (d) mental health status, and (e) physical health status.
Haitian-Americans living in Miami experienced a broad spectrum of indirect exposures to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. These exposures were strongly associated with psychological distress, trauma-related mental health consequences, and diminished health status. Most notable was the multiplicity of indirect exposures to the on-scene experiences of multiple family members and friends in Haiti.
Consideration should be given to the psychological impact and needs for support among indirectly-exposed populations with strong affiliation to directly-impacted victims.
很少有研究关注自然发生的灾害造成的间接接触灾难对心理健康的影响。本研究评估了现在居住在迈阿密的海地裔美国人对 2010 年海地地震的间接接触；这些人没有直接接触地震，但保留了他们的文化身份、语言以及与海地家人和朋友的联系。
在地震发生两个月后，对海地裔美国人进行了抽样调查，询问他们：(1) 他们对地震的心理反应；(2) 他们在海地的家人和朋友经历的各种暴露情况；以及 (3) (a) 重度抑郁、(b) 广泛性焦虑症、(c) 复杂悲伤、(d) 心理健康状况和 (e) 身体健康状况的症状水平。
居住在迈阿密的海地裔美国人经历了广泛的间接接触 2010 年海地地震。这些接触与心理困扰、与创伤相关的心理健康后果以及健康状况下降密切相关。最值得注意的是，他们与海地的多个家庭成员和朋友的现场经历有多种间接接触。
应该考虑到与直接受灾者有强烈联系的间接受灾人群的心理影响和支持需求。
