Between the Storm and Stability: Psychological Impact of Hurricane Helene in Hospital Staff in a Cross-Hospital Analysis in the US
1
Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Center for Health and Society, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
2
Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States
3
Institute of Health and Welfare Policy, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, Province of China
4
Division of Occupational Medicine, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, United States
5
Occupational Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University Hospital, Yilan, Taiwan, Province of China
6
Department of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
Natural disasters affect psychological states among specific healthcare workers. This study examines the impact of Hurricane Helene in healthcare worker groups with dual (private and workplace), single (workplace-only), and no exposure. In an online survey, distributed to employees four months after Hurricane Helene at two affected hospitals and one non-affected control hospital. The survey included the abbreviated CBI, BRS, PHQ-2, and SDOH questions. This paper focuses on baseline data collected 4 months post-hurricane. Follow-ups are not included here. Of 629 submitted questionnaires, 504 were complete cases. Participants were classified as dual exposure (n = 270, 53.6%), workplace-only exposure (n = 125, 24.8%), and unexposed (n = 109, 21.6%), with no significant demographic differences except race. In both univariate and adjusted linear regression models, dual exposure was significantly associated with lower resilience (β = -0.29, 95% CI [-0.43, -0.15]) and higher depressive symptoms (β = 0.45, 95% CI [0.18, 0.73]) compared to no exposure. A significant linear trend was observed across exposure groups (p for trend < .001). When compared with the unexposed group, dual exposure was also linked to higher internal (β = 0.99, 95% CI [0.25, 1.72]) and external burnout (β = 0.49, 95% CI [0.20, 0.78]); workplace-only exposure showed significant associations with external burnout only (p = .031). Dual disaster exposure was linked to lower resilience, higher depressive and burnout symptoms. Workplace-only exposure had limited effects, which highlights the mental health risks of cumulative exposure and the need for support across all life contexts in disaster-affected settings.
Natural disasters affect psychological states among specific healthcare workers. This study examines the impact of Hurricane Helene in healthcare worker groups with dual (private and workplace), single (workplace-only), and no exposure. In an online survey, distributed to employees four months after Hurricane Helene at two affected hospitals and one non-affected control hospital. The survey included the abbreviated CBI, BRS, PHQ-2, and SDOH questions. This paper focuses on baseline data collected 4 months post-hurricane. Follow-ups are not included here. Of 629 submitted questionnaires, 504 were complete cases. Participants were classified as dual exposure (n = 270, 53.6%), workplace-only exposure (n = 125, 24.8%), and unexposed (n = 109, 21.6%), with no significant demographic differences except race. In both univariate and adjusted linear regression models, dual exposure was significantly associated with lower resilience (β = -0.29, 95% CI [-0.43, -0.15]) and higher depressive symptoms (β = 0.45, 95% CI [0.18, 0.73]) compared to no exposure. A significant linear trend was observed across exposure groups (p for trend < .001). When compared with the unexposed group, dual exposure was also linked to higher internal (β = 0.99, 95% CI [0.25, 1.72]) and external burnout (β = 0.49, 95% CI [0.20, 0.78]); workplace-only exposure showed significant associations with external burnout only (p = .031). Dual disaster exposure was linked to lower resilience, higher depressive and burnout symptoms. Workplace-only exposure had limited effects, which highlights the mental health risks of cumulative exposure and the need for support across all life contexts in disaster-affected settings.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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