Hurricane Katrina and Youth Anxiety: the Role of Perceived Attachment Beliefs and Parenting Behaviors

This study sought to examine the role of attachment beliefs and parenting behaviors on youth's anxious response to disaster by testing a theoretical model which posits youths' perceptions of attachment beliefs and parenting behaviors as moderators of the relation between pre and post disaster anxiety symptoms. Seventy-four youth (ages 6-17 years) and their parents exposed to Hurricane Katrina participated in pre and post disaster assessments. Results indicated that both youths' pre disaster perceived attachment beliefs (i.e., trust and communication) and perceptions of parenting behaviors (i.e., acceptance and firm control) moderated the relation between pre and post Katrina anxiety symptoms. Exploratory analyses demonstrated no age, gender, or ethnicity differences in post Katrina anxiety symptoms. Findings are discussed in terms of how parents may influence youths' pre and post disaster anxiety symptoms in the face of natural disasters and the implications for intervention.