Coping with oil spills: oil exposure and trait anxiety among residents of Gulf Coast states after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill Open Access

Abstract

Background: The objective of this cross-sectional study was to describe the association of oil exposure with anxiety after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and to evaluate potential effect modifiers of that association. 

Methods: To assess the impacts of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted the Gulf States Population Survey, a random-digit-dial telephone survey completed between December 2010 and December 2011 with 38,361 responses in four different Gulf Coast states— Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. We used Tobit regression to model anxiety as measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) symptom inventory. 

Results: Among those directly exposed to oil, participation in oil spill cleanup activities was associated with lower anxiety, after controlling for confounders (β=-3.83, 95% CI: -6.55, -1.12).

Conclusion: Oil contact was associated with greater anxiety, but this association appeared to be mitigated by cleanup participation. 

Table of Contents

ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................................

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..............................................................................................................

TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................................................

INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................1

METHODS....................................................................................................................................1

RESULTS ......................................................................................................................................3

DISCUSSION & CONCLUSIONS...................................................................................................4

TABLES.........................................................................................................................................7

Characteristics of the weighted survey population......................................................................7

Direct contact with oil and latent trait anxiety............................................................................8

Direct contact with oil and anxiety, by frequency of emotional support.....................................9

Latent trait anxiety between individuals participating in oil spill cleanup activities................10

Oil spill cleanup participation and anxiety, by frequency of emotional support.......................11

REFERENCES.............................................................................................................................12

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Environmental Health
Degree	M.P.H.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Environmental Health
Keyword	Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Centers for Disease Control and Prevention epidemiology emergency response Gulf States Population Survey mental health community health
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Dr. Matthew O. Gribble, PhD DABT, Emory University

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