The Connection Between Severe Weather Experiences and Emotional Wellbeing in Native Americans in Oklahoma

Compared to other groups in Oklahoma, Native Americans face both disproportionate risks from severe weather and significant barriers to mental health care access compared to other populations. Previous studies have shown that severe weather experiences can have extensive negative effects on individuals’ emotional wellbeing. However, there is a lack of research relating to the impacts of severe weather on emotional wellbeing in diverse cultural populations, such as Native Americans. This study addresses this gap by examining the connection between severe weather experiences and emotional wellbeing among Native Americans in Oklahoma. We explore the connection between severe weather experiences and emotional wellbeing in Native Americans in Oklahoma. We analyze data from Wave 5 of the Oklahoma Meso-Scale Integrated Socio-Geographic Network (M-SISNet) Survey, fielded February 2024 to April 2024. Using the dataset, we investigate how Native Americans’ emotional wellbeing, measured as one dimension of post-traumatic stress, relates to severe weather experiences using baseline and pre-severe weather event wellbeing data. Preliminary findings indicate that Native Americans exhibit a higher stress response by reliving past events than their non-Native counterparts. Furthermore, Native Americans who experienced a tornado show an elevated stress response compared to those without such experiences, reinforcing the link between severe weather exposure and emotional distress. Overall, we found evidence for a connection between severe weather experiences and emotional wellbeing in Native Americans in Oklahoma. These results highlight the need for further research on cultural differences in emotional responses to severe weather. This work contributes to a deeper understanding of how severe weather impacts the mental health of culturally distinct communities and the importance of equitable disaster mental health services.