Flood impact on men’s mental health: evidence from flood-prone areas of Bangladesh
Disasters can pose significant risks to mental health, often resulting in both temporary and long-lasting psychological distress. This study explores the impact of floods on mental health. A survey was conducted shortly after the 2022 flash flood, in which 452 male participants from the Ajmiriganj a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1529558/full |
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| author | Md Mostafizur Rahman Ifta Alam Shobuj Md Tanvir Hossain Edris Alam Edris Alam Md Kamrul Islam Md Kaium Hossain |
| author_facet | Md Mostafizur Rahman Ifta Alam Shobuj Md Tanvir Hossain Edris Alam Edris Alam Md Kamrul Islam Md Kaium Hossain |
| author_sort | Md Mostafizur Rahman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Disasters can pose significant risks to mental health, often resulting in both temporary and long-lasting psychological distress. This study explores the impact of floods on mental health. A survey was conducted shortly after the 2022 flash flood, in which 452 male participants from the Ajmiriganj and Dharmapasha Upazilas in Bangladesh were surveyed. Mental health was assessed using the DASS-21 instrument, and we examined the variables associated with mental health issues. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis were employed. Around 47% of participants reported severe or extremely severe depression, 41% reported severe or extremely severe anxiety, and 36% reported severe or extremely severe stress. Factors such as age, marital status, type of home, occupation, flood safety rating, and property loss during the 2022 flood were all found to be associated with depression. Anxiety was linked to flood safety, occupation, housing type, education level, and marital status. Additionally, all anxiety-related variables were also associated with stress. Mental health issues were more prevalent among older, married, illiterate participants living in kacha (temporary) housing, as well as among agricultural workers and fishers with low safety ratings. Psychological interventions and disaster risk reduction strategies could help mitigate the mental health impact of floods. The findings of this study have important implications for global disaster management and public health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-453395dd7cf7417e89e6dabc02fbee06 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-453395dd7cf7417e89e6dabc02fbee062025-08-20T01:55:12ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-04-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15295581529558Flood impact on men’s mental health: evidence from flood-prone areas of BangladeshMd Mostafizur Rahman0Ifta Alam Shobuj1Md Tanvir Hossain2Edris Alam3Edris Alam4Md Kamrul Islam5Md Kaium Hossain6Department of Disaster Management & Resilience, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Bangladesh University of Professionals, Dhaka, BangladeshDepartment of Disaster Management & Resilience, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Bangladesh University of Professionals, Dhaka, BangladeshSociology Discipline, Social Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, BangladeshDepartment of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, BangladeshFaculty of Resilience, Rabdan Academy, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi ArabiaSchool of Business and Economics, United International University, Dhaka, BangladeshDisasters can pose significant risks to mental health, often resulting in both temporary and long-lasting psychological distress. This study explores the impact of floods on mental health. A survey was conducted shortly after the 2022 flash flood, in which 452 male participants from the Ajmiriganj and Dharmapasha Upazilas in Bangladesh were surveyed. Mental health was assessed using the DASS-21 instrument, and we examined the variables associated with mental health issues. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis were employed. Around 47% of participants reported severe or extremely severe depression, 41% reported severe or extremely severe anxiety, and 36% reported severe or extremely severe stress. Factors such as age, marital status, type of home, occupation, flood safety rating, and property loss during the 2022 flood were all found to be associated with depression. Anxiety was linked to flood safety, occupation, housing type, education level, and marital status. Additionally, all anxiety-related variables were also associated with stress. Mental health issues were more prevalent among older, married, illiterate participants living in kacha (temporary) housing, as well as among agricultural workers and fishers with low safety ratings. Psychological interventions and disaster risk reduction strategies could help mitigate the mental health impact of floods. The findings of this study have important implications for global disaster management and public health.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1529558/fullflash floodmental healthstressanxietydepressionBangladesh |
| spellingShingle | Md Mostafizur Rahman Ifta Alam Shobuj Md Tanvir Hossain Edris Alam Edris Alam Md Kamrul Islam Md Kaium Hossain Flood impact on men’s mental health: evidence from flood-prone areas of Bangladesh Frontiers in Public Health flash flood mental health stress anxiety depression Bangladesh |
| title | Flood impact on men’s mental health: evidence from flood-prone areas of Bangladesh |
| title_full | Flood impact on men’s mental health: evidence from flood-prone areas of Bangladesh |
| title_fullStr | Flood impact on men’s mental health: evidence from flood-prone areas of Bangladesh |
| title_full_unstemmed | Flood impact on men’s mental health: evidence from flood-prone areas of Bangladesh |
| title_short | Flood impact on men’s mental health: evidence from flood-prone areas of Bangladesh |
| title_sort | flood impact on men s mental health evidence from flood prone areas of bangladesh |
| topic | flash flood mental health stress anxiety depression Bangladesh |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1529558/full |
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