Hopelessness correlates with the perception of quality of life in the population affected by the Fundão dam rupture: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Hopelessness can be defined as the negative expectation about the future, associated with the lack of expectation of its change. This cognition may be found in the setting of disasters. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the prevalence of hopelessness and its correlations with the quality of life and delineate the associated factors with its development in the population affected by the disaster of the Fundão dam at Mariana. METHODS: 225 adults affected by the disaster were evaluated. The study explored the relationships between hopelessness and depression, quality of life, and its determinants. RESULTS: 9% of the population were presented with a mild level of hopelessness. The correlation coefficient (CC) between hopelessness and depression was 0.220 (p=001) and between hopelessness and quality of life was -0.248 (p<0.001). This value remained significant, with the exclusion of individuals diagnosed with depression being -0.204 (p=0.010). Insomnia (OR: 5.92, p=0.002), being 60 years old or older (OR: 4.736, p=0.009) and risk of suicide (OR: 5.468, p=0.005) are predictors of hopelessness, while high resilience was a protective factor (OR: 0.115; p=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: A high degree of hopelessness was correlated with worsening quality of life even in individuals without depression. Thus, we suggest that interventions focused on reducing hopelessness should be included in assistance plans to minimize the impacts on those affected. Keywords: Disasters; Quality of life; Mental health; Technological disasters; Depression; Suicide.

Keywords

• disasters
• quality of life
• mental health
• technological disasters
• depression
• suicide