The association between self-reported change in vote for the presidential election of 2012 and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms following Hurricane Sandy

The relationship between vote change for the presidential election in 2012 and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms has not been previously explored. An online sample of 1000 people mainly from New York Metropolitan Area was surveyed during the fourth week of November 2012 after Hurricane Sandy, shortly after the US Presidential election. Participants completed a questionnaire battery which included disaster related questions and PTSD symptoms. Logistic regression revealed a significant association between vote change and elevated risk for PTSD symptoms. This result may indicate that PTSD symptoms are associated with behavioral actions such as vote change.