Investigation of Psychometric Properties and Correlation with Psychological Distress after Hurricane Hazards in Puerto Rico

Ruthmarie Hernández-Torres (), Mary Rodríguez-Rabassa, Lianel P. Rosario, Cristina Peña-Vargas, Zindie Rodríguez-Castro, Idhaliz Flores, Francisco Cartujano-Barrera, Rosario Costas-Muñíz, Nelmit Tollinchi-Natali, Estefania Torres-Marrero, Ernesto Rosario-Hernández, Heather Jim, Guillermo N. Armaiz-Pena and Eida M. Castro-Figueroa
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Ruthmarie Hernández-Torres: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
Mary Rodríguez-Rabassa: School of Behavioral & Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce 00716, Puerto Rico
Lianel P. Rosario: School of Behavioral & Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce 00716, Puerto Rico
Cristina Peña-Vargas: School of Behavioral & Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce 00716, Puerto Rico
Zindie Rodríguez-Castro: Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce 00716, Puerto Rico
Idhaliz Flores: Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce 00716, Puerto Rico
Francisco Cartujano-Barrera: Department of Public Health, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
Rosario Costas-Muñíz: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
Nelmit Tollinchi-Natali: School of Behavioral & Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce 00716, Puerto Rico
Estefania Torres-Marrero: School of Behavioral & Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce 00716, Puerto Rico
Ernesto Rosario-Hernández: School of Behavioral & Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce 00716, Puerto Rico
Heather Jim: Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
Guillermo N. Armaiz-Pena: School of Medicine, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce 00716, Puerto Rico
Eida M. Castro-Figueroa: School of Behavioral & Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce 00716, Puerto Rico

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 10, 1-15

Abstract: Background: Puerto Rico (PR) is highly vulnerable to hurricanes, which severely impact cancer survivors by causing healthcare disruptions and increasing stress. This study investigates the reliability and factor structure of the Hurricane Hazards Inventory (HHI) and its relationship with psychological distress among cancer survivors and non-cancer controls in PR. Methods: Using secondary data from a longitudinal study following Hurricane Maria (HM), the baseline assessment included sociodemographic data from participants, HHI, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7). Statistical analyses involved descriptive statistics, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Results: Among 260 participants, 78.7% were women, with a median age of 58.0 years. EFA reduced the HHI to 17 items grouped into three factors explaining 62.6% of the variance with excellent reliability (Cronbach’s alpha 0.91). The three factors also showed good to excellent reliability (alpha 0.81 to 0.92). The median HHI score was 11.0 (range 4.0–26.5) out of 68. PLS-SEM revealed a direct effect of being a cancer survivor and tertiary hazards on depression and anxiety. Conclusion: The HHI is a valid and reliable tool for assessing mental health impact in cancer survivors after hurricanes. However, the study had limitations, including its small sample size and lack of control for all confounding variables. Future research with larger and more diverse samples is needed to further validate the HHI and examine its generalizability.

Keywords: natural disasters; hurricanes; psychological distress; cancer; psychometric (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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