The Impact of Perceived Background Risk on Stress, Health Insurance, and Substance Use: Evidence from Hurricane Katrina
Year: 2015
Type: report
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, I find causal evidence that Hurricane Katrina increased stress, smoking, binge drinking, and health insurance coverage in the non-impacted storm surge region. In this region, Hurricane Katrina increased health insurance coverage by 440,000 young adults, the number of smokers by 930,000, and the number of binge drinkers by 510,000. Findings suggest that disasters affect perceptions of background risk in areas with actual risk. Results are robust to varying the location and time of Hurricane Katrina, varying the pre-Hurricane Katrina time window, and excluding counties within 400 miles of New Orleans.
Author: Michael F. Pesko
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1765750703