Compounding impacts of hazard exposures on mental health in Houston, TX

Natural and anthropogenic hazards are increasingly becoming commonplace due to climate change and population pressures. The state of Texas is particularly vulnerable to these hazards and is ranked first in the USA due to the immense variety and frequency of large-scale events. While much research has looked at the immediate impacts these incidents have on mental health, little research has addressed the effects of compounding and repeated exposure to hazards. This cross-sectional study ( N = 1224) collected survey data from a representative sample within the Houston Metropolitan Statistical Area. Utilizing the 12 item Short Form Health Survey version 2, a general composite score assessing mental health was compared against the type and frequency of hazard exposures. Findings revealed an observed reduction in mental health scores as participants had repeated exposures to major disasters. Further, the only significant result ( p