CHRONIC STRESS AS A MEDIATOR OF ACUTE STRESS - THE CASE OF HURRICANE HUGO

This study explored one mechanism through which acute disaster stress (injury, life threat, property damage, loss) may produce lasting psych ological distress (depression, anxiety, somatization, hostility). More specifically, the study examined the mediating roles of seven domains of chronic stress (marital, parental, filial, financial, occupational , ecological, physical) within a sample of 930 disaster victims and co ntrols. The results provided strong support for the hypothesis that ch ronic stress mediates the long-term effects of acute disaster stress o n psychological distress. The main effects of loss, though limited in strength, were completely explained by victims' higher financial, mari tal, filial, and physical stress. The effects of injury, though quite strong, were largely mediated by these same domains of chronic stress. Likewise, the effects of life threat were largely mediated by all the se domains plus ecological stress. A mediational model was not appropr iate for understanding the consequences of property damage because it did not exhibit a main effect on psychological distress.