In the immediate aftermath of natural disasters, survivors often grapple with profound psychological distress.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), characterized by intrusive memories, anxiety, and emotional numbness, is especially common.
However, not all survivors experience lasting symptoms, and new insights are emerging into the role that social support plays in shaping recovery trajectories.
A recent study by Chenyi Ma, Tony E. Smith, and Dennis P. Culhane, published in Traumatology (2024), provides compelling evidence that social support significantly buffers survivors from PTSD after a disaster, but the effectiveness of this support wanes over time.
Ma and colleagues focused their investigation on survivors of Hurricane Ike, a devastating storm that struck the Galveston Bay Area of Texas in September 2008.
Ike, one of the costliest hurricanes in U.S. history, left many survivors facing severe mental health challenges, with PTSD symptoms prevalent immediately after the disaster.
The researchers analyzed data from the Galveston Bay Recovery Study, which tracked 658 survivors over an 18-month period following Hurricane Ike.
Through repeated interviews, survivors reported their experiences of stress, trauma, and the amount of social support they received from family, friends, and broader community networks.
Results of the study revealed a clear protective role for social support.
Survivors who reported higher levels of support—whether emotional reassurance, practical help, or informational guidance – were less likely to experience PTSD, even if they had faced severe disaster-related stressors like displacement or financial loss.
Specifically, the researchers identified a “buffering effect,” meaning social support significantly mitigated the harmful impact of disaster-related stress on survivors’ mental health.
However, a notable caveat emerged: the protective effect of social support diminished over time. Initially robust, the buffering effect weakened significantly within the first year and a half post-disaster.
By the third wave of interviews, the researchers observed that even survivors with high social support began to show an increased likelihood of PTSD symptoms if their disaster-related stress remained high.
This finding highlights a critical consideration for disaster response policies and mental health interventions.
The immediate provision of social support is undeniably valuable, but sustaining long-term mental health recovery may require additional ongoing support and resources.
The study suggests that interventions delivered promptly after a disaster—such as providing emotional counseling, financial assistance, and clear, accurate information – can greatly reduce immediate PTSD risk.
Yet, without sustained support, the initial benefits may fade, leaving survivors vulnerable in the longer term.
Moreover, certain demographic factors further influenced PTSD risk.
Women and those who had previously experienced PTSD prior to the hurricane were significantly more likely to report persistent symptoms.
This underscores the need for targeted mental health services that are sensitive to individual vulnerabilities.
The authors caution, however, about the limitations of their study.
Data collection relied heavily on survivors’ self-reporting, and attrition rates (participants dropping out over the study period) might have introduced bias, potentially underrepresenting those most severely affected.
Future research should explore how different types of support—such as emotional versus practical help – uniquely influence PTSD recovery over longer periods.
Additionally, studies investigating how best to sustain and adapt support interventions as time progresses could inform more effective long-term disaster recovery plans.
Ultimately, this research underlines the importance of social networks in mental health recovery, reinforcing the value of community cohesion and timely intervention after traumatic events.
It also serves as a reminder that the journey to psychological recovery after a disaster is ongoing, and survivors may require sustained attention long after immediate physical dangers have passed.
Citation
Ma, C., Smith, T. E., & Culhane, D. P. (2025). The stress-buffering effects of received social support on posttraumatic stress disorder among Hurricane Ike survivors. Traumatology, 31(2), 276–284. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000526
