Status of natural disaster victims' health and recovery 1 and 3 years later

Bereaved, property loss, and control groups (N = 155) studied 11 months following the 1980 volcanic eruption of Mt. St. Helens were recontacted 35 months postdisaster to test the hypotheses that the greater the loss experienced, the higher the stress, and the poorer the health. In general, the hypotheses were supported. Even though mental distress decreased between the two data collection periods, the mental health of the bereaved group remained poorer than both the property loss and control groups. At 3 years postdisaster, only 4% of the study participants reported complete recovery from disaster loss. Findings are compared with those of other recent disasters and clinical and theoretical implications are discussed.