TY - JOUR
T1 - The impact of pet loss on the perceived social support and psychological distress of hurricane survivors
AU - Lowe, Sarah R.
AU - Rhodes, Jean E.
AU - Zwiebach, Liza
AU - Chan, Christian S.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Associations between pet loss and posthurricane perceived social support and psychological distress were explored. Participants (N = 365) were primarily low-income African American single mothers who were initially part of an educational intervention study. All participants were exposed to Hurricane Katrina, and 47% experienced Hurricane Rita. Three waves of survey data, two from before the hurricanes, were included. Sixty-three participants (17.3%) reported losing a pet due to the hurricanes and their aftermath. Pet loss significantly predicted postdisaster distress, above and beyond demographic variables, pre- and postdisaster perceived social support, predisaster distress, hurricane-related stressors, and human bereavement, an association that was stronger for younger participants. Pet loss was not a significant predictor of postdisaster perceived social support, but the impact of pet loss on perceived social support was significantly greater for participants with low levels of predisaster support.
AB - Associations between pet loss and posthurricane perceived social support and psychological distress were explored. Participants (N = 365) were primarily low-income African American single mothers who were initially part of an educational intervention study. All participants were exposed to Hurricane Katrina, and 47% experienced Hurricane Rita. Three waves of survey data, two from before the hurricanes, were included. Sixty-three participants (17.3%) reported losing a pet due to the hurricanes and their aftermath. Pet loss significantly predicted postdisaster distress, above and beyond demographic variables, pre- and postdisaster perceived social support, predisaster distress, hurricane-related stressors, and human bereavement, an association that was stronger for younger participants. Pet loss was not a significant predictor of postdisaster perceived social support, but the impact of pet loss on perceived social support was significantly greater for participants with low levels of predisaster support.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=69249110487&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/jts.20403
DO - 10.1002/jts.20403
M3 - Article
C2 - 19462438
AN - SCOPUS:69249110487
SN - 0894-9867
VL - 22
SP - 244
EP - 247
JO - Journal of Traumatic Stress
JF - Journal of Traumatic Stress
IS - 3
ER -