Researcher ORCID Identifier

0009-0002-7298-9981

Graduation Year

2024

Date of Submission

12-2024

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

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Second Department

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Reader 1

Mark Huber

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Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

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© 2024 Sarah Jane S Fullerton

Abstract

This research investigates the historical trends of psychological distress in the U.S. in relation to natural disaster occurrences. By analyzing long-term data, we examine how significant natural disasters relate to levels of psychological distress over time. The research employs Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) and Time Series Analysis to identify patterns and trends between the frequency and intensity of natural disasters and the rise of psychological distress across various periods in U.S. history. Additionally, real-time data from Reddit was collected through a custom-built Reddit web scraper specialized for Hurricane Helene. This dataset was labeled for sentiment and used to train machine learning models for sentiment analysis, providing valuable tools for understanding emotional responses in real-time. Their adaptability makes them applicable for future use in crisis response. The findings of this research offer a dual perspective: understanding the broader historical relationship between natural disasters and psychological distress, and providing insights into emotional reactions to 2024 events.

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