Table 5.

Logistic regression examining factors associated with self-reported negative mental health outcomes attributed to bushfire smoke exposure.

	Univariate			Bivariatea
	OR (SE)	95%CI	P-value	OR (SE)	95%CI	P-value
Gender	1.99 (0.192)	1.65–2.40	<0.001
Age (years)	0.99 (0.003)	0.98–0.99	<0.001
18–24	1.00
25–34	1.71 (0.365)	1.12–2.59	0.012
35–44	2.07 (0.455)	1.34–2.18	0.001
45–54	1.59 (0.350)	1.03–2.45	0.034
55–64	1.13 (0.239)	0.75–1.72	0.549
65–74	0.96 (0.205)	0.63–1.46	0.837
75+	0.70 (0.201)	0.40–1.23	0.212
Parent	1.43 (0.150)	1.16–1.75	0.001	1.27 (0.142)	1.02–1.59	0.029
Age of youngest child
0–18m	1.00			1.00
>18 month−4 years	1.25 (0.354)	0.72–2.18	0.423	1.26 (0.364)	0.71–2.22	0.426
5–11 years	0.95 (0.242)	0.58–1.57	0.848	0.96 (0.257)	0.57–1.62	0.885
12–17 years	0.60 (0.162)	0.35–1.02	0.058	0.60 (0.173)	0.34–1.06	0.078
Carer	0.89 (0.114)	0.69–1.15	0.367
Pregnant	1.51 (0.526)	0.77–2.99	0.234
Self-rated health	1.17 (0.186)	0.86–1.60	0.323
Previous physical health diagnosis	1.32 (0.130)	1.09–1.60	0.004	1.35 (0.138)	1.10–1.64	0.004
Previous mental health diagnosis	1.45 (0.178)	1.14–1.85	0.002	1.30 (0.164)	1.01–1.66	0.038
Renter	1.12 (0.157)	0.85–1.48	0.409
Smoker
Never	1.00
Past	1.06 (0.115)	0.86–1.31	0.592
Current	0.86 (0.240)	0.49–1.48	0.579
Education
No school qualification, school or intermediate, HSC or leaving	1.00
Trade, apprentership, certificate or diploma	1.40 (0.243)	1.00–1.97	0.050	1.46 (0.257)	1.03–2.06	0.032
University	1.37 (0.196)	1.04–1.82	0.026	1.42 (0.208)	1.07–1.90	0.015
Direct fireb
1. Any exposure	1.65 (0.157)	1.37–1.99	<0.001	1.51 (0.149)	1.25–1.83	<0.001
2. Scale–None	1.00
Mild	1.60 (0.157)	1.32–1.94	<0.001	1.46 (0.148)	1.20–1.78	<0.001
Severe	2.02 (0.365)	1.42–2.88	<0.001	1.87 (0.344)	1.31–2.69	0.001
3. Cumulative	1.41 (0.077)	1.26–1.57	<0.001	1.34 (0.076)	1.20–1.50	<0.001
Previous Firec
1. Any exposure	0.96 (0.095)	0.79–1.17	0.683
2. Scale -None	1.00
Mild	0.92 (0.094)	0.75–1.12	0.412
Severe	1.23 (0.205)	0.88–1.70	0.223
3. Cumulative	1.08 (0.082)	0.93–1.25	0.346
Canberra bushfires 2003	1.05 (0.097)	0.87–1.26	0.621

^a Bivariate models included factors along with gender, age and gender*age interaction;

^b Direct exposure to fire in the current season was measured as: 1. Any exposure—yes/no if any direct exposures to fire were indicated; 2. Scale—a scale was created consisting of three levels of exposure—none (none or indirect), mild (classified as responses limited to being in an area with fire nearby, evacuation due to bushfire, area of significance lost other than home, family member was affected, home was affected while away), and severe (if experience included loss of or damage to property or direct contact with fire e.g., firefighter or protecting property); 3. Cumulative—the number of ways in which the participant has previously been exposed for fire were added;

^cPrevious exposure to fire was measured as: 1. Any exposure–yes/no if any previous exposures were indicated; 2. Scale–a scale was created with three levels of exposure—None (not affected, effects were limited to health and/or smoke effects), mild (responses limited to voluntary evacuation, family or close friend affected, cancellation or alteration of holiday plans/events, business or work affected), and severe (if experience included forced evacuation, damage to or loss of property, firefighter, first responder, volunteer, protected property, alert to evacuate, worry about property or risk); Cumulative–The number of ways in which the participant has previously been exposed for fire were added.