A meta-analysis on gender differences in prevalence estimates of mental disorders following exposure to natural hazards
Creators: name: Nolting, Isabella Kai Lee
name: Morina, Nexhmedin
name: Hoppen, Thole Hilko
name: Tam, Kim-Pong
name: Kip, Ahlke
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Evolutionary Biology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Cancer
subject: Mental Health

description: <b>Background:</b> Women report higher rates of trauma-related disorders compared to men. With women being disproportionately impacted by the consequences of natural hazards, this gender disparity may increase in their aftermath. <b>Objective:</b> This meta-analysis aimed at quantifying gender gaps in mental disorder prevalence following natural hazards, considering both the recent and long-term aftermath of natural hazards, the developmental status of affected countries, and type of hazard. <b>Method:</b> A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science in February 2024. Random effects models were used to calculate odds ratios (OR) based on point prevalences. OR adjusted for covariates were also descriptively reported. <b>Results:</b> In total, 141 reports (<i>N</i> = 3,726,153 independent participants) were included. The prevalence for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression (MD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) within the first year after the hazard were 24.95%, 8.11%, and 14.24%, respectively. More than one-year post-natural hazard the prevalence for PTSD and MD were 22.89% and 13.51%, respectively. Women had significantly higher odds for PTSD (OR = 1.85) and MD (OR = 1.52) within the first year after the hazard, as well as in later assessments (OR = 1.83 for PTSD, OR = 1.41 for MD). Only four studies reported on GAD gender differences in the recent aftermath of natural hazards, resulting in a non-significant OR of 1.85. Subgroup analyses indicated no differences between developmental status of affected countries and adjusted OR showed no systematic variations upon the inclusion of covariates. Gender differences were larger in the aftermath of earthquakes. <b>Conclusions:</b> Significant gender differences for mental disorders following natural hazards exist, although these differences appear similar to other contexts. Gender-sensitive disaster response plans for mental health are essential. We investigated gender differences in post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, and generalized anxiety disorder prevalences post-natural hazard.Women were over 80% more likely to report post-traumatic stress and over 50% more likely to report major depression than men, with these differences remaining stable over time.Findings on non-binary and other genders are lacking in natural-hazard research. We investigated gender differences in post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, and generalized anxiety disorder prevalences post-natural hazard. Women were over 80% more likely to report post-traumatic stress and over 50% more likely to report major depression than men, with these differences remaining stable over time. Findings on non-binary and other genders are lacking in natural-hazard research.