Women who have to deal with multiple hurricanes during pregnancy have an increased risk of psychological distress, according to a study published earlier this year. Specifically, the study found that pregnant women who are exposed to two or more extreme weather events are more likely than other pregnant women to develop mood and anxiety disorders, incident-related mental disorders, and severe mental illness.
The topic is of particular interest following Hurricane Helene, which was just one of the major hurricanes women in North Carolina have been exposed to since 2016. While there is research on maternal mental health after being exposed to one hurricane, there is limited data on women who have been exposed to more than one.
“Our research highlights a critical gap: while we know the mental health impacts of single disasters, we’re only beginning to understand the effects of recurrent exposure especially in vulnerable groups like pregnant women,” says Jen Runkle, corresponding author of the study and senior research scholar at NC State’s North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies (NCICS). “For those living in disaster-prone areas, the effects aren’t just one-time – our study brings a nuanced perspective, showing that recurring events compound mental health impacts, pushing for policies that address the cumulative stress of multiple disasters.”
The study – which was published in June 2024 in PLOS Mental Health – drew on data from the UNC Sheps Center which showed daily emergency department (ED) visits for pregnant Medicaid patients between the ages of 18 and 44. The ED visit data ranged from Oct. 1, 2015, to Sept. 1, 2020, which is of particular interest to researchers since four major hurricanes moved through North Carolina during that timeframe: Matthew (2016), Florence (2018), Michael (2018), and Dorian (2019).