PTSD Causes The Effect of Hurricane Katrina on Children Hurricane Katrina's Impact on Children By Matthew Tull, PhD Matthew Tull, PhD Twitter Matthew Tull, PhD is a professor of psychology at the University of Toledo, specializing in post-traumatic stress disorder. Learn about our editorial process Updated on June 27, 2021 Fact checked Verywell Mind content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Cara Lustik Fact checked by Cara Lustik LinkedIn Cara Lustik is a fact-checker and copywriter. Learn about our editorial process Print Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images The effect of Hurricane Katrina is significant. Since the storm hit the United States Gulf Coast in late August 2005, a number of people and communities have felt its impact, and the negative effect of Hurricane Katrina continues to be felt today. The Effect of Hurricane Katrina Several studies have been done in an attempt to describe the impact of Hurricane Katrina. Many people were separated from their children, friends, neighbors and relatives. In addition, their homes were destroyed or they were displaced from their homes for long periods of time. Additionally, people were also exposed to increased crime and violence as a result of the hurricane. What's the Connection Between PTSD and Hurricane Katrina? Given these experiences, it is not surprising that many developed symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression following Hurricane Katrina. Symptoms include upsetting memories and thoughts about the hurricane, feeling upset when being reminded of the hurricane, trying to avoid thoughts and feelings about the hurricane, having worries about future hurricanes, and feeling on edge and tense. However, less is known about the effect of Hurricane Katrina on children specifically. Depression and Posttraumatic Stress Children may be particularly vulnerable to PTSD stress following exposure to a natural disaster like Hurricane Katrina. One group of researchers surveyed 2,362 4th- to 12th-grade children in the 2005-2006 school year and 4,896 4th- to 12th-grade children in the 2006-2007 school year. All children were from schools in Louisiana parishes that were affected by Hurricane Katrina. They found that many children had experienced a great deal of stress as a result of the hurricane. Most had been displaced by the hurricane, had seen their neighborhood destroyed or damaged, and had lost personal belongings. In addition, around a third had been separated from a caregiver and/or a pet during the storm or evacuation. Children also reported, to a lesser extent, seeing family members or friends injured or killed. Given the stress that these children were exposed to, it makes sense that many experienced severe symptoms of depression and PTSD. In fact, this study found that about half of the children experienced high levels of depression and PTSD symptoms. An increased risk for these symptoms was correlated with: Currently being separated from a caregiverLiving in a trailerHaving to stay in a shelterYounger age, being femaleHaving previous loss or traumaHaving had family members or friends killed as a result of the hurricaneHaving personal belongings destroyed or damaged Coping With the Effects of a Natural Disaster Natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina can have a major impact on a person's psychological health. If you are coping with the effects of a natural disaster, help is available. The National Center for PTSD provides a number of fact sheets on the effects of natural disasters and how to cope with them. You can also find treatment providers in your area through the Anxiety Disorder Association of America. Repeated Exposure to Hurricanes Can Be Detrimental to Mental Health 3 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Chan CS, Rhodes JE. Measuring Exposure in Hurricane Katrina: A Meta-Analysis and an Integrative Data Analysis. Chao L, ed. PLoS ONE. 2014;9(4):e92899. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0092899 McLeish AC, Del Ben KS. Symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder in an outpatient population before and after Hurricane Katrina. Depression & Anxiety. 2008;25(5):416-421. doi:10.1002/da.20426 Osofsky HJ, Osofsky JD, Kronenberg M, Brennan A, Hansel TC. Posttraumatic stress symptoms in children after Hurricane Katrina: Predicting the need for mental health services. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. 2009;79(2):212-220. doi:10.1037/a0016179 Additional Reading Weems CF, Watts SE, Marsee MA, et al. The psychosocial impact of Hurricane Katrina: Contextual differences in psychological symptoms, social support, and discrimination. Behaviour Research and Therapy. 2007;45(10):2295-2306. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2007.04.013 By Matthew Tull, PhD Matthew Tull, PhD is a professor of psychology at the University of Toledo, specializing in post-traumatic stress disorder. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? 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