Protectors of Indigenous Adolescents’ Post-disaster Adaptation in Taiwan

Abstract

The study examined the protectors of post-disaster adaption in indigenous adolescent survivors of a devastating typhoon in Taiwan. In total, 152 adolescent participants were recruited from two mountainous districts that were the most severely destroyed by Typhoon Morakot (August 7, 2009). A self-reported questionnaire with five major sections including: (1) sociodemographic information and previous traumatic experience; (2) the adolescent-family inventory of life events and changes; (3) the Family APGAR Index; (4) the Family Satisfaction Scale; and (5) the WHO Quality of Life Scale was administered to the adolescents. Multiple regression was performed to analyze the collected data. Gender, religion, and perceptions of overall life changes, family functioning, and satisfaction with family were found to significantly affected post-disaster life adaptation in indigenous adolescents. The findings suggest that clinicians should be more sensitive to gender differences, strengthen adolescents’ beliefs and family systems, and minimize transitional post-disaster experience in order to assist indigenous survivors with coping with disasters.