Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University, Mt Helen, VIC 3350, Australia.
Health Innovation and Transformation Centre, Federation University, Mt Helen, VIC 3350, Australia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Dec 27;21(1):38. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21010038.
Many survivors of wildfires report elevated levels of psychological distress following the trauma of wildfires. However, there is only limited research on the effects of wildfires on mental health. This study examined differences in anxiety, depression, insomnia, sleep quality, nightmares, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms following wildfires in Australia, Canada, and the United States of America (USA). One hundred and twenty-six participants from Australia, Canada, and the USA completed an online survey. The sample included 102 (81%) women, 23 (18.3%) men, and one non-binary (0.8%) individual. Participants were aged between 20 and 92 years ( age = 52 years, = 14.4). They completed a demographic questionnaire, the Disturbing Dream and Nightmare Severity Index (DDNSI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and PTSD Checklist (PCL-5). Results showed that participants from the USA scored significantly higher on the GAD-7 ( = 0.009), ISI ( = 0.003), and PCL-5 ( = 0.021) than participants from Australia and Canada. The current findings suggest a need for more international collaboration to reduce the severity of mental health conditions in Australia, Canada, and the USA.
许多野火幸存者在经历野火创伤后报告心理困扰程度升高。然而,关于野火对心理健康的影响的研究有限。本研究调查了澳大利亚、加拿大和美国(USA)野火后焦虑、抑郁、失眠、睡眠质量、噩梦和创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)症状的差异。来自澳大利亚、加拿大和美国的 126 名参与者完成了在线调查。样本包括 102 名(81%)女性、23 名(18.3%)男性和 1 名非二元性别(0.8%)个体。参与者年龄在 20 至 92 岁之间(年龄=52 岁,=14.4)。他们完成了人口统计问卷、噩梦和梦魇严重程度指数(DDNSI)、广泛性焦虑症问卷(GAD-7)、失眠严重程度指数(ISI)、患者健康问卷(PHQ-9)、匹兹堡睡眠质量指数(PSQI)和 PTSD 检查表(PCL-5)。结果表明,与来自澳大利亚和加拿大的参与者相比,来自美国的参与者在 GAD-7(=0.009)、ISI(=0.003)和 PCL-5(=0.021)上的得分显著更高。目前的研究结果表明,需要更多的国际合作来减轻澳大利亚、加拿大和美国的心理健康状况的严重程度。