Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015;17(1):234-238.
doi: 10.4172/1522-4821.1000147.

Assessing Community Reactions to Ebola Virus Disease and Other Disasters: Using Social Psychological Research to Enhance Public Health and Disaster Communications

Joseph A Boscarino  1 , Richard E Adams  2
Affiliations

Assessing Community Reactions to Ebola Virus Disease and Other Disasters: Using Social Psychological Research to Enhance Public Health and Disaster Communications

Joseph A Boscarino et al. Int J Emerg Ment Health. 2015.

Abstract

Drawing on the lessons learned from previous disaster and disease outbreak studies over the past two decades, in the following article we review research related to social psychological assessment of community attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs associated with the recent Ebola outbreak and other public health threats, and discuss the use of this information to assist in future disaster planning and crisis communications. Psychologists, physicians, and others in the healthcare field need to be aware of these developments and involved with preparations related to mitigating the psychological impact of Ebola disease outbreaks among different populations, as well as other potential public health threats in the future.

Keywords: Preparedness; bioterrorism; disasters; disease outbreaks; public health; risk communications; social psychology.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Adams RE, Boscarino JA. Stress and well-being in the aftermath of the World Trade Center attack: The continuing effects of a community wide disaster. Journal of Community Psychology. 2005;33:175–190. doi: 10.1002/jcop.20030. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Adams RE, Boscarino JA. Predictors of PTSD and delayed PTSD after disaster: The impact of exposure and psychosocial resources. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 2006;194:485–493. doi: 10.1097/01.nmd.0000228503.95503.e9. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Adams RE, Boscarino JA. A structural equation model of perievent panic and posttraumatic stress disorder after a community disaster. Journal of Traumatic Stress. 2011;24:61–69. doi: 10.1002/jts.20603. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Adams RE, Boscarino JA, Galea S. Social and psychological resources and health outcomes after the World Trade Center disaster. Social Science & Medicine (1982) 2006;62:176–188. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.05.008. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Adams RE, Figley CR, Boscarino JA. The compassion fatigue scale: Its use with social workers following urban disaster. Research on Social Work Practice. 2008;18:238–250. doi: 10.1177/1049731507310190. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources