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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

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01-01-2015 | Original Paper

Frequencies and predictors of barriers to mental health service use: a longitudinal study of Hurricane Ike survivors

Authors: Sarah R. Lowe, David S. Fink, Fran H. Norris, Sandro Galea

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 1/2015

Abstract

Background

The majority of disaster survivors suffering from psychological symptoms do not receive mental health services. Research on barriers to service use among disaster survivors is limited by a lack of longitudinal studies of representative samples and investigations of predictors of barriers. The purpose of this study was to address these limitations through analysis of a three-wave population-based study of Hurricane Ike survivors (N = 658).

Methods

Frequencies of preference, outcome expectancy, resource, and stigma barriers among participants with unmet mental health needs were documented and logistic regression using a generalized estimating equations approach explored predisposing (e.g., age), illness-related (e.g., posttraumatic stress) and enabling (e.g., insurance coverage) factors as predictors of each type of barrier.

Results

Preference barriers were most frequently cited at each wave, whereas stigma barriers were least frequently cited. Older age and higher emotional support predicted preference barriers; being a parent of a child under 18-years old at the time of the hurricane, higher generalized anxiety, and lack of insurance predicted resource barriers; and higher posttraumatic stress predicted stigma barriers.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that postdisaster practices targeting subpopulations most likely to have barriers to service use may be indicated.

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Title: Frequencies and predictors of barriers to mental health service use: a longitudinal study of Hurricane Ike survivors
Authors: Sarah R. Lowe
David S. Fink
Fran H. Norris
Sandro Galea
Publication date: 01-01-2015
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 1/2015
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-014-0908-y

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Frequencies and predictors of barriers to mental health service use: a longitudinal study of Hurricane Ike survivors

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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