Psychological health declined during the post-monsoon season in communities impacted by sea-level rise in Bangladesh

Abstract Sea level rise affects the long-term psychological health of coastal communities. However, research on long-term and seasonal impacts on vulnerable communities’ psychological health is limited. Here, we explore the effect of sea-level rise on the psychological health of the coastal populati...

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Main Authors: Sajjad Kabir, Elizabeth Newnham, Ashraf Dewan, Md. Monirul Islam, Takeshi Hamamura
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Communications Earth & Environment
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01862-1
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author Sajjad Kabir
Elizabeth Newnham
Ashraf Dewan
Md. Monirul Islam
Takeshi Hamamura
author_facet Sajjad Kabir
Elizabeth Newnham
Ashraf Dewan
Md. Monirul Islam
Takeshi Hamamura
author_sort Sajjad Kabir
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Sea level rise affects the long-term psychological health of coastal communities. However, research on long-term and seasonal impacts on vulnerable communities’ psychological health is limited. Here, we explore the effect of sea-level rise on the psychological health of the coastal population in Satkhira and Khulna districts of southwest Bangladesh across two seasons: before monsoon (March to April) and post-monsoon months (October to November) in 2021. We leveraged the longitudinal research that involved 1144 participants. We collected data on psychological health using established scales for distress, depression, anxiety, and stress and also measured environmental factors and resource losses. Results indicate that psychological health, particularly distress, depression, anxiety, and stress, increased during the post-monsoon months in communities more vulnerable to sea-level rise. Highly vulnerable communities showed increased psychological distress post-monsoon. Environmental stressors and resource loss escalated during the post-monsoon period, especially in moderate and highly vulnerable communities. Our findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted support and resilience-building interventions in affected communities to alleviate the psychological health impacts of sea-level rise.
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spelling doaj-art-a5b04f997c5340a2ae8688963e549f0f2025-08-20T02:50:08ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352024-11-015111110.1038/s43247-024-01862-1Psychological health declined during the post-monsoon season in communities impacted by sea-level rise in BangladeshSajjad Kabir0Elizabeth Newnham1Ashraf Dewan2Md. Monirul Islam3Takeshi Hamamura4School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin UniversitySchool of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin UniversitySchool of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS), Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin UniversityDepartment of Fisheries, University of DhakaSchool of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin UniversityAbstract Sea level rise affects the long-term psychological health of coastal communities. However, research on long-term and seasonal impacts on vulnerable communities’ psychological health is limited. Here, we explore the effect of sea-level rise on the psychological health of the coastal population in Satkhira and Khulna districts of southwest Bangladesh across two seasons: before monsoon (March to April) and post-monsoon months (October to November) in 2021. We leveraged the longitudinal research that involved 1144 participants. We collected data on psychological health using established scales for distress, depression, anxiety, and stress and also measured environmental factors and resource losses. Results indicate that psychological health, particularly distress, depression, anxiety, and stress, increased during the post-monsoon months in communities more vulnerable to sea-level rise. Highly vulnerable communities showed increased psychological distress post-monsoon. Environmental stressors and resource loss escalated during the post-monsoon period, especially in moderate and highly vulnerable communities. Our findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted support and resilience-building interventions in affected communities to alleviate the psychological health impacts of sea-level rise.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01862-1
spellingShingle Sajjad Kabir
Elizabeth Newnham
Ashraf Dewan
Md. Monirul Islam
Takeshi Hamamura
Psychological health declined during the post-monsoon season in communities impacted by sea-level rise in Bangladesh
Communications Earth & Environment
title Psychological health declined during the post-monsoon season in communities impacted by sea-level rise in Bangladesh
title_full Psychological health declined during the post-monsoon season in communities impacted by sea-level rise in Bangladesh
title_fullStr Psychological health declined during the post-monsoon season in communities impacted by sea-level rise in Bangladesh
title_full_unstemmed Psychological health declined during the post-monsoon season in communities impacted by sea-level rise in Bangladesh
title_short Psychological health declined during the post-monsoon season in communities impacted by sea-level rise in Bangladesh
title_sort psychological health declined during the post monsoon season in communities impacted by sea level rise in bangladesh
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01862-1
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