PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS OF ADOLESCENTS EXPOSED TO HURRICANE HUGO

To ascertain the effects of a natural disaster on adolescents, 1482 So uth Carolina high school students who were exposed to Hurricane Hugo w ere surveyed 1 year after the disaster. Subjects completed a self-admi nistered questionnaire measuring Hugo exposure, nonviolent and violent life events, social support, self-efficacy, and psychological distres s. Results showed that the students reported minimal exposure to the h urricane and psychological distress variables approximated national no rms. As exposure increased, adolescents reported increased symptoms of psychological distress; i.e., anger, depression, anxiety, and global mental distress. Females and white students experienced higher levels of distress. In most cases, other stressful life events were at least as strong a predictor of psychological distress as was exposure to the hurricane. Self-efficacy and social support were protective.