The mental health impact of volunteering in a disaster setting: a review

J Nerv Ment Dis. 2010 Aug;198(8):529-38. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0b013e3181ea1fa9.

Abstract

This article reviews the literature on mental health of volunteers after working in disasters. When mobilized they often are a community's major source for rescue and recovery. PsychINFO, PubMED, and Web of Science were searched for relevant articles published until October 2009. Of 448 articles screened, only 9 articles fulfilled our inclusion criteria. They examined the aftermath of earthquakes (4 articles), terrorist bombings (1), explosions (1), aviation disasters (1), tsunami (1), and a bus accident (1).Findings showed that, compared with professional workers, volunteers tend to have higher complaint levels. The following factors were found to contribute to mental health complaints of volunteers: Identification with victims as a friend, severity of exposure to gruesome events during disaster work, anxiety sensitivity, and lack of postdisaster social support. The review reveals the need for more research regarding predictors of stress in volunteers.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Aviation / psychology
  • Accidents, Aviation / statistics & numerical data
  • Accidents, Traffic / psychology
  • Accidents, Traffic / statistics & numerical data
  • Disasters / statistics & numerical data*
  • Earthquakes / statistics & numerical data
  • Explosions / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Life Change Events
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Motor Vehicles / statistics & numerical data
  • Rescue Work / statistics & numerical data
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
  • Terrorism / psychology
  • Terrorism / statistics & numerical data
  • Tsunamis / statistics & numerical data
  • Volunteers / psychology*