Impacts and Mental Health Problems among Older Adults in Areas Affected by Flood Disasters in Uttaradit Province
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Abstract
This descriptive correlational study aimed to examine the impacts of flood disasters, mental health problems in terms of stress and depression, and the relationships between flood disaster impacts and mental health problems among older adults in flood-affected areas of Uttaradit Province. The sample consisted of 260 older adults selected through multistage random sampling. Research instruments included a demographic questionnaire, a flood disaster impact assessment questionnaire (IOC = 0.85, Cronbach’s alpha = 0.92), the Stress Test-5 (ST-5), and the 9Q depression screening questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient.
The findings revealed that the overall impact of flooding among older adults was at a low level (Mean = 2.53, S.D. = 1.58). Psychological impact was at a moderate level (Mean = 2.74, S.D. = 1.58), whereas physical and social impacts were at low levels (Mean = 2.45, S.D. = 1.61). Most participants reported low levels of stress (56.54%), followed by moderate levels (26.54%), while 16.92% experienced high to very high levels of stress. Flood disaster impacts were positively associated with stress at a statistically significant level (p < 0.05), particularly psychological impact, which showed a moderate correlation (r = 0.482). No significant relationship was found between flood disaster impacts and depression (p > 0.05).
The findings suggest that psychological impacts of flooding are associated with stress among older adults. Healthcare providers should prioritize stress assessment, screening, and management, as well as continuous monitoring of mental health problems, to promote quality of life and psychological well-being among older adults affected by disasters.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Reference
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. Global assessment report on disaster risk reduction 2022. Geneva: UNDRR; 2022.
World Health Organization. Mental health and psychosocial well-being in emergencies. Geneva: WHO; 2022.
Neria Y, Nandi A, Galea S. Post-traumatic stress disorder following disasters: a systematic review. Psychol Med. 2008;38(4):467–80.
Phiri M, Draper CE, Lambert EV, Kolbe-Alexander TL, Cooper J. Impact of natural disasters on older adults’ mental health: a systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health [serial online]. 2020 Oct. [cited 2026 Apr 18];17(21):7850. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17217850
Fernandez RS, Lord H, Halcomb EJ, Moxham L, Middleton R. The psychological impact of natural disasters on older adults: an integrative review. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2015;36(12):948–63.
Strough J, Parker AM, Ayer L, Parks V, Finucane ML. Aging and emotional well-being after disasters: vulnerability and resilience. Gerontologist [serial online]. 2024 Mar. [cited 2026 Apr 18];64(3):gnad099. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnad099
Gao L, Zhang Y, Wang Z, Yu X. The effect of flood exposure on mental health among older adults: a community-based cross-sectional study in China. BMC Public Health [serial online]. 2021 Oct [cited 2026 Apr 15];21:1889. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11896-0
Goldmann E, Galea S. Mental health consequences of disasters. Annu Rev Public Health. 2014;35:169–83.
Norris FH, Friedman MJ, Watson PJ. 60,000 disaster victims speak: Part II. Summary and implications of the disaster mental health research. Psychiatry. 2002;65(3):240–60.
First JM. Post-traumatic stress and depression following disaster: examining the mediating role of disaster resilience. Front Public Health [serial online]. 2024 Jan. [cited 2026 Apr 15];12:1272909. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1272909
Kaewsuk P. Psychological impacts of flooding on older adults in Northern Thailand. J Nurs Sci. 2021;39(2):45–58. Thai
Department of Mental Health. Five-year strategic plan (2023–2027) of the Department of Mental Health. Nonthaburi: Ministry of Public Health; 2023. Thai
Lazarus RS, Folkman S. Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York: Springer; 1984.
Kun P, Han S, Chen X, Yao L. Prevalence and risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder among adults following the 1998 flood in China. Compr Psychiatry. 2013;54(5):495-501.
Yamane T. Statistics: an introductory analysis. 3rd ed. New York: Harper and Row; 1973.
Department of Mental Health. Stress test (ST-5). Ministry of Public Health. Retrieved. Nonthaburi: Ministry of Public Health; 2020. Thai
Lotrakul M, Sumrithe S, Saipanish R. Reliability and validity of the Thai version of the PHQ-9. BMC Psychiatry. 2008;8(46):1-7.
Praboromarajchanok Institute. Practice manual for PBRI model according to the concept of seven-color life traffic ping-pong. Praboromarajchanok Institute; 2022. Thai.
Polit DF, Beck CT. Nursing research: generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice. 11th ed. Wolters Kluwer; 2021.
Aldrich DP, Meyer MA. Social capital and community resilience. Am Behav Sci. 2015;59(2):254-69.
First JM, First NL, Houston JB. Intimate partner violence and disasters: a framework for empowering women experiencing violence in disaster settings. Affilia. 2023;38(1):3-17.
