What is it about?
Natural disasters can have long-lasting effects on mental health and behavior. After Hurricane Ike struck the Galveston Bay area in 2008, many survivors experienced stress and trauma, which can lead to coping behaviors such as increased alcohol use. This study examines how social factors—specifically social cohesion (the sense of connection and trust within a community) and social control (the ability of a community to regulate behaviors)—influenced drinking habits after the hurricane. Using survey data from Hurricane Ike survivors, we found that alcohol use increased for about one in four people after the disaster. Those who experienced higher levels of trauma and stress were more likely to drink more. Interestingly, social control within communities was associated with lower alcohol use, meaning that strong community oversight may help reduce harmful drinking behaviors. However, social cohesion had the opposite effect—people in highly connected communities were actually more likely to increase alcohol use, possibly because drinking became a shared coping mechanism. These findings highlight the complex role of social environments in post-disaster recovery. While strong communities can offer support, they may also reinforce behaviors like increased drinking. Understanding these dynamics can help inform disaster recovery programs and mental health interventions that support healthier coping strategies
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Why is it important?
This study is one of the first to explore how social cohesion (community connectedness) and social control (community oversight) shape alcohol use after a natural disaster. While previous research has shown that trauma and stress increase alcohol consumption, our findings reveal a more complex dynamic: strong social control within communities helps reduce post-disaster drinking, but high social cohesion may actually contribute to increased alcohol use, likely because drinking becomes a shared coping mechanism. As climate change leads to more frequent and severe disasters, understanding the social and behavioral impacts of these events is more urgent than ever. Disaster recovery efforts often prioritize physical rebuilding, but our study highlights the need to integrate social and mental health considerations into response strategies. By recognizing the role of community structures in shaping coping behaviors, policymakers and mental health professionals can develop targeted interventions that foster healthy social support while reducing risky behaviors like excessive drinking.
Perspectives
Writing this article was a deeply engaging experience, as it revealed the complex ways social dynamics influence behavior after a disaster. While it’s well understood that trauma and stress can lead to increased alcohol use, I was particularly struck by our finding that strong social ties—often seen as a source of resilience—can also contribute to higher drinking levels in disaster-affected communities. This challenges the assumption that all forms of social cohesion are purely beneficial and highlights the nuanced role of community relationships in post-disaster recovery. I hope this study sparks further discussion on how disaster recovery efforts can leverage the benefits of social support while promoting healthy coping strategies. As climate change increases the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, recovery efforts must extend beyond physical rebuilding to address the social and behavioral impacts of disasters. More than anything, I hope this research informs policies that foster resilience in ways that truly support survivors—helping communities rebuild not just structurally, but emotionally and socially as well.
Dr. Chenyi Ma
University of Pennsylvania
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Increased alcohol use after Hurricane Ike: The roles of perceived social cohesion and social control, Social Science & Medicine, October 2017, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.08.014.
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