Date of Award

2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Brain, David

Area of Concentration

Environmental Studies

Abstract

This thesis examines mountaintop removal coal mining (MTR) and its potential implications for mental health outcomes in Central Appalachia through a GIS-based analysis of county-level mental health survey data. The impacts of MTR are discussed, specifically highlighting current research on the psychological effects of MTR. National survey data is used to summarize mental health outcomes by county and variables such as poor mental health, depression, alcohol abuse, and mental illness are compared between areas with and without MTR mining. The results of the GIS analysis show higher rates of depression and poor mental health in counties participating in MTR, adding to growing evidence indicating negative mental health impacts from exposure to MTR. The maps produced in this thesis illustrate geographic patterns that may help in future research to identify counties most at risk of the effects of MTR.

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