Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

JoNell Strough

Committee Member

Julie Hicks Patrick

Committee Member

Stephanie McWilliams

Abstract

Research has investigated challenges that are created when one experiences a disaster within populations such as older adults and other vulnerable groups of people. However, there is little to no consideration given to how age in combination with trauma history are related to well-being after a disaster. Using two theories, socioemotional selectivity theory (SST, Carstensen, 2006) and the strength and vulnerability integration model (SAVI, Charles, 2010). I compared older adults post disaster vulnerabilty to depression and anxiety to that of younger adults with trauma history as a moderator. The 2,508 participants in the current study were from the Survey of Trauma, Resilience, and Opportunity among Neighborhoods in the Gulf (STRONG; Finucane, Lee, & Ramchand, 2018) and resided in the US Gulf Coast region during 2016 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Results were consistent with SST as older age was associated with lower depression and anxiety symptoms and all of the interactions were non significant. The findings within this study highlight that there are age-related benefits that can foster emotional well-being, even when there is the presence of unavoidable stressors such as exposure and prior trauma.

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