Differences in Anxiety, Insomnia, and Trauma Symptoms in Wildfire Survivors from Australia, Canada, and the United States of America

Fadia Isaac (), Samia R. Toukhsati, Britt Klein, Mirella Di Benedetto and Gerard A. Kennedy
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Fadia Isaac: Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University, Mt Helen, VIC 3350, Australia
Samia R. Toukhsati: Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University, Mt Helen, VIC 3350, Australia
Britt Klein: Health Innovation and Transformation Centre, Federation University, Mt Helen, VIC 3350, Australia
Mirella Di Benedetto: Australian Centre for Heart Health, North Melbourne, VIC 3051, Australia
Gerard A. Kennedy: Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University, Mt Helen, VIC 3350, Australia

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 21, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Many survivors of wildfires report elevated levels of psychological distress following the trauma of wildfires. However, there is only limited research on the effects of wildfires on mental health. This study examined differences in anxiety, depression, insomnia, sleep quality, nightmares, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms following wildfires in Australia, Canada, and the United States of America (USA). One hundred and twenty-six participants from Australia, Canada, and the USA completed an online survey. The sample included 102 (81%) women, 23 (18.3%) men, and one non-binary (0.8%) individual. Participants were aged between 20 and 92 years ( M age = 52 years, SD = 14.4). They completed a demographic questionnaire, the Disturbing Dream and Nightmare Severity Index (DDNSI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and PTSD Checklist (PCL-5). Results showed that participants from the USA scored significantly higher on the GAD-7 ( p = 0.009), ISI ( p = 0.003), and PCL-5 ( p = 0.021) than participants from Australia and Canada. The current findings suggest a need for more international collaboration to reduce the severity of mental health conditions in Australia, Canada, and the USA.

Keywords: depression; anxiety; PTSD; nightmares; insomnia; sleep quality; wildfires; survivors; USA; Canada; Australia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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