Examining tornado exposure, post-tornado distress, and gender following the March 2020 tornado in Nashville, Tennessee

ABSTRACT

Extreme weather events, such as tornadoes, disproportionately impact socially vulnerable individuals and communities across the U.S. The current study utilised a survey to examine gender-based vulnerability to tornado exposure and adverse mental health among 412 participants following a tornado in Nashville, Tennessee in March 2020. Structural equation modelling results indicated that both men and women exhibited high rates of post-traumatic stress and depression symptoms. However, tornado exposure mediated a higher risk of post-traumatic stress and depression symptoms among female participants. These findings contribute to bridging the gap in research explaining underlying mechanisms that contribute to gender disparities in post-disaster mental health.

KEYWORDS:

• Disaster
• gender
• social vulnerability
• mental health

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).