 - One qualitative study on chronic climate disasters and mental health outcomes found an increased risk of psychiatric hospitalization for depression after living in a region affected by dryland salinity (degradation of land caused by an increase of salt concentration in the soil)
 - Another study from Brazil reported much higher levels of anxiety and emotional distress in those living in drought-affected communities as opposed to those who did not.


Qualitative Study Examples on Mental Health Outcomes and Chronic Climate Disasters

Qualitative research involves non-numerical data and analyses, often using a naturalistic approach to observe and analyze human behavior. Information is often gathered from interviews, naturalistic observation, focus groups, case studies, etc. Qualitative research is not analyzed statistically but rather conclusions are constructed using methods like content analysis and thematic analysis where researchers look for themes and patterns in their observed data and draw conclusions from that.

How to do Qualitative Research

Using different analysis methods, researchers have conducted qualitative research comparing those affected by chronic climate disasters and those not affected.

Washington State University at Tri-Cities

Because of the nature of chronic climate-related natural disaster events, trajectory models do not work as well for predicting mental health and resilience factors. In these cases, qualitative research has been used.

Longitudinal Studies on Chronic Climate-Related Events and Psychological Health and Resilience 

Shuquan Chen, Rohini Bagrodia, Charlotte C. Pfeffer, Laura Meli, George A. Bonanno,
Anxiety and resilience in the face of natural disasters associated with climate change: A review and methodological critique, Journal of Anxiety Disorders, Volume 76, 2020, 102297, ISSN 0887-6185, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102297.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887618520301110)

Climate Change and Anxiety Reference

As opposed to acute-onset climate disasters, chronic ones happen over longer periods of time (sometimes multiple years), can be the result of slow, progressive climate degeneration, and have different markers that make them more difficult to study. Chronic climate change-related disasters include things like famine, droughts, desertification and long-term pest infestations.

Chronic Climate Change-Related Disasters 

Qualitative Study of Chronic Climate Disasters and Psychological Health

Research has shown that there might be further risk factors that change the mental health and psychological adjustment of different populations disproportionately. Those who live in rural areas or are of lower socioeconomic status and relying on land for their livelihood may be disproportionately impacted. As well, those who have a strong connection to the land or land-based work may be affected disproportionately.

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