Mental Health Implications of Disaster Relocation in the United States: A Review of the Literature *

Abstract

Relocation following disaster has been assumed by many to be a highly stressful event. This article examines this assumption by reviewing the literature relating to relocation in both disaster and non-disaster settings, focussing on the way in which relocation may be perceived in terms of its impact on the physical environment, economic status, social setting, and psychological domain. In addition, special risk based on age, socioeconomic level and ethnicity is discussed. Finally, implications for research are presented. In general, the literature suggests that perceptions related to housing quality, the sense of home and of belonging, increased indebtedness, availability of social support, other aversive events affecting the individual, and the degree of perceived control are critical variables in determining the mental health outcomes of relocation. Vulnerability to stress reactions following relocation is probably more related to class and ethnicity than to age. Additional research is needed to clarify the ways in which these variables interact.