Authors
Matthew Carroll, Timothy Campbell, Catherine L Smith, Caroline X Gao, Tyler J Lane, Darryl Maybery, Emily Berger, David Brown, Jillian Ikin, Michael Abramson, Michelle Duffy, Damian Morgan, Larissa Walker, Susan Yell
Publication date
2023/12/5
Publisher
OSF
Description
The 2014 Hazelwood coalmine fire expelled acrid smoke over a six-week period into the community of Morwell, Australia. This study investigated community wellbeing associated with smoke exposure, demographic, social, and health factors six years post-event. Survey responses indicated participants (N= 585) were somewhat dissatisfied with community (measure: Community Wellbeing Index) and that their satisfaction with community had deteriorated since the mine fire. Multiple recent adverse life-events, somatic symptoms, and being younger were strong predictors of negative perceptions of community wellbeing. Monitoring and attending to these predictors could promote community resilience and recovery in the context of disaster.