After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: gender differences in health and religiosity in middle-aged and older adults

Authors

Jennifer Silva Brown, Drury University - Springfield, Missouri
Katie E. Cherry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Loren D. Marks, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Erin M. Jackson, Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge
Julia Volaufova, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
Christina Lefante, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
S Michal Jazwinski, Tulane University - New Orleans
Louisiana Healthy Aging Study
Lauri O. Byerley, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
et al

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2010

Publication Title

Health Care for Women International

Abstract

We examined health-related quality of life in adults in the Louisiana Health Aging Study (LHAS) after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (HK/R) that made landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast region in 2005. Analyses of pre- and post-disaster SF-36 scores yielded changes in physical function and bodily pain. Mental health scores were lower for women than men. Gender differences were observed in religious beliefs and religious coping, favoring women. Religious beliefs and religious coping were negatively correlated with physical function, implying that stronger reliance on religiosity as a coping mechanism may be more likely among those who are less physically capable.

First Page

997

Last Page

1012

PubMed ID

20924874

Volume

31

Issue

11

Comments

See article for full author list.

Recommended Citation

Brown, Jennifer Silva; Cherry, Katie E.; Marks, Loren D.; Jackson, Erin M.; Volaufova, Julia; Lefante, Christina; Jazwinski, S Michal; Study, Louisiana Healthy Aging; Byerley, Lauri O.; and al, et, "After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: gender differences in health and religiosity in middle-aged and older adults" (2010). School of Public Health Faculty Publications. 382.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/soph_facpubs/382
10.1080/07399332.2010.514085