Survivors Of Natural Disasters Research Articles

Navigating the Aftermath: Exploring Business Decision-Making and Family Recovery in Palu, Sulawesi, Indonesia, After a Natural Disaster

This qualitative case study examines the decision-making process of a family that experienced a natural disaster in Palu. The participants of the study were Mr. FP, the head of the family, and his wife, Mrs. VP. Primary data was collected through in-depth interviews with FP and VP conducted by relatives who witnessed the family’s gradual recovery. Additionally, supporting data was gathered through data mining, including pre -and post-disaster photographs. The family, like many others, faced an unpredictable and devastating event that not only resulted in the loss of their main source of livelihood but also inflicted deep trauma. The study aimed to delve into this family’s experiences when confronted with an unexpected disaster, exploring the impact they faced, the recovery process they undertook, and the factors influencing their decision-making, with particular emphasis on the head of the family. The head of the family played a vital role in family dynamics, making their decision-making process of great importance. The primary objective of this research was to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of family members, particularly the head of the family, as they navigate the challenges of post-disaster recovery, specifically focusing on decision-making in economics and finances. By comprehending their experiences and decisions, the study sought to shed light on how families can rebuild their lives, particularly in terms of achieving economic and financial stability. Narrative analysis was employed in this study, as it allowed for an exploration of the experiences and decision-making of natural disaster survivors in a subjective and unrestrictive manner. This analysis enabled the capturing of the narratives shared by Mr. FP and Mrs. VP, the main informants, and facilitated the interpretation of supporting documents. Consequently, the collected data yielded rich and in-depth insights, further strengthening the findings of this research. Keywords: resilient decision-making, natural disaster, family economy, recovery process, qualitative case study

Scoping Review of PTSD Treatments for Natural Disaster Survivors.

This scoping review explores the current research on PTSD interventions for Natural Disaster survivors. It includes fourteen randomized control trials (RCTs). The included interventions were, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, herbal supplements, CBT, yoga, narrative exposure therapy, acupuncture stimulation, web-based interventions, and a multimodal art and meditation program. CBT is considered the standard of care for general PTSD treatment and was also found to be effective for the treatment of natural disaster-related PTSD symptoms. However, higher-level clinical evidence is needed. There are inconsistencies with the use of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and herbal supplements, while there is insufficient clinical evidence to effectively determine the efficacy of yoga, acupuncture, art, and narrative exposure therapies. Factors like the availability of resources, cultural sensitivity, and values and preferences impact the effectiveness of interventions used to treat PTSD in natural disaster survivors. Clinical studies in this field need to be further expanded regardless of the study type.

Association between housing damage, present bias and delayed-onset post-traumatic stress symptoms among older adults 9 years after a natural disaster

BackgroundPrevious studies suggest that experience of natural disasters may heighten present bias. Research also suggests that impaired self-control (in particular, heightened present bias) could be linked to delayed-onset post-traumatic stress...

Post-Disaster Mental Health and Dietary Patterns among Older Survivors of an Earthquake and Tsunami.

Research suggests that cardiometabolic disease risks are elevated among survivors of natural disasters, possibly mediated by changes in diet. Using the Brief Dietary History Questionnaire, we examined (1) dietary patterns among older survivors of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and (2) the contribution of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS)/depressive symptoms, as well as relocation to temporary housing on dietary patterns and (3) gender differences in the associations. Data came from a prospective cohort study of 1,375 survivors aged 65-89 years (44.6% male). PTSS/depression onset was evaluated in 2013, 2.5 years after the disaster. Dietary data was collected with a self-administered brief-type diet history questionnaire in 2020. A principal component analysis identified three posterior dietary patterns. Diet 1 consisted of high intake of vegetables, soy products, and fruits; Diet 2 consisted of carbohydrate-rich foods and snacks/sweets; Diet 3 consisted of high intake of alcoholic beverages, meat, and seafood. Least-squares linear regression revealed that individuals with PTSS/depression were less likely to exhibit Diet 1, while individuals with PTSS were more likely to exhibit Diet 2 and 3. Especially, males who had depression showed an unhealthy dietary pattern. Those who have lived in a trailer-style temporary housing reported less consumption of Diet 3. Survivors of disaster with symptoms of mental illness tended to exhibit less healthy dietary patterns after 9 years. Diet varied by type of post-disaster mental illness, gender, and current social circumstances. We lacked pre-disaster BDHQ data, which is a limitation.

Analyzing the experiential meanings of survivors’ expressions of natural disasters in Indonesia

This study examines how natural disaster survivors in Indonesia construe their experiences regarding such calamities affecting them personally or environmentally from a linguistic angle. To this end, the direct expressions of the survivors were analyzed following the Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) framework. The transitivity analysis of the survivors' expressions allows us to uncover the experiential meanings in terms of Processes, Participants, and Circumstances, which correspond to verbs, nouns and adjuncts in the grammar, respectively. The survivors' direct expressions were extracted from forty conveniently and criteria-based sampled Indonesian news articles. These articles vary in terms of the types and locations of natural disasters. In total, 195 expressions were found. While the results show that the survivors construe their experience in various ways, they predominantly construe their experience as material Processes or physical events that affect them personally and environmentally. The grammar of their expressions demonstrates that they mostly position the natural disasters as Actors and themselves as Goals in the events, attesting to the agentive power of nature over humans. The survivors also understood the natural disasters in abstract ways, using relational and existential Processes. This study contributes to the public narrative and collective memory in discourses related to natural disasters.

Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Resilience among the Primary Survivors of Natural Disaster: A Study with Special Reference to Kerala Flood

Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Resilience among the Primary Survivors of Natural Disaster: A Study with Special Reference to Kerala Flood

Hurricane stress, cultural stress, and mental health among hurricane Maria migrants in the U.S. mainland.

Hurricane Maria (2017) caused great damage to Puerto Rico, undermining people's quality of life and forcing thousands to migrate to the U.S. mainland. Identifying individuals at elevated risk of suffering mental health problems as a function of being exposed to hurricane and cultural stress is crucial to reducing the burden of such health outcomes. The present study was conducted in 2020-2021 (3-4 years postdisaster) with 319 adult Hurricane Maria survivors on the U.S. mainland. We aimed to (a) identify latent stress subgroups, as defined by hurricane stress and cultural stress, and (b) map these latent stress subgroups or classes onto sociodemographic characteristics and mental health indicators (i.e., symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety). We used latent profile analysis and multinomial regression modeling to accomplish the study aims. We extracted four latent classes: (a) low hurricane stress/low cultural stress (44.7%), (b) low hurricane stress/moderate cultural stress (38.7%), (c) high hurricane stress/moderate cultural stress (6.3%), and (d) moderate hurricane stress/high cultural stress (10.4%). Individuals in the low hurricane stress/low cultural stress class reported the highest household incomes and levels of English-language proficiency. The moderate hurricane stress/high cultural stress class reported the worst mental health outcomes. While postmigration cultural stress, as a chronic stressor, emerged as the most important predictor of poor mental health, hurricane stress, as an acute stressor that occurred several years earlier, emerged as less influential. Our findings might be used to inform mental health prevention experts who work with natural disaster survivors forced to migrate. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Landslide disasters in eastern Uganda: post-traumatic stress disorder and its correlates among survivors in Bududa district

BackgroundPost-traumatic stress disorder is the commonly reported psychiatric morbidity among the survivors of natural disasters. However, its prevalence particularly in Bududa, Eastern Uganda is largely unknown.Aims and objectivesTo assess the prevalence and correlates of post-traumatic stress disorder among Bududa landslide survivors.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 587 participants. The study setting was the Bududa district, with a multistage sampling method. Pre-tested, administered interviewer PTSD Checklist–civilian version was used as screening tools between 4th and April 29th 2022. Data were analyzed using descriptive and binary logistic approaches at a 5% level of significance.ResultsOf the study participants, 276 (46.8%) had PTSD symptoms. Among the respondents, 250 (42.6%) were in the age range of 40 and above, 396 (67.3%) were female, 284 (48.4%) had no formal education, and 333 (56.7%) were married. Results showed that male gender (AOR: 0.47; 95% CI 0.31–0.73; p = 0.001), widowhood (AOR: 0.44; 95% CI 0.21–0.94; p = 0.034), lack of counseling (AOR: 0.44; 95% CI 0.21–0.94; p = 0.001), and duration since the landslide (AOR: 0.35; 95% CI 0.23–0.52; p = 0.001) were associated with an increased likelihood of screening for PTSD in landslide survivors.ConclusionLandslides pose significant effects on the mental health of survivors. In the present study, the extent of PTSD among survivors is substantially high. male gender,, widowhood, lack of counselling, low social support, and duration since the landslide were significantly associated with PTSD. Effective screening and awareness programs among survivors should be strengthened for the prevention and treatment of psychiatric morbidity among the survivors of landslides.

Family reunification through DNA analysis of survivors of the greatest natural disaster in Colombia in Armero-tolima (1985)

On November 13, 1985 at 9:20 p.m., the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano erupted (A Glacier Snowy Volcano 17457 fts above sea level). The lahar, melting ice and landslide devastated the town of Armero located 45 kilometers away in a matter of minutes, in the Tolima department of Colombia. More than 25,000 people died or were reported missing. This tragedy is the largest natural disaster to date in Colombia. The Armando Armero Foundation is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that brings together survivors of this tragedy. This NGO is making efforts to reunite families in association with Servicios Médicos Yunis Turbay y Cia. Different strategies are used to search and find matches in our database, including documents and records, autosomic STR, Y chromosome STR and mtDNA analysis. Thus far, four families have been reunited in this process.

PENGALAMAN KOMUNIKASI PENGHUNI HUNTARA PETOBO PASCA BENCANA DI TENGAH PANDEMI COVID-19

This study aims to find out how the social life of the Petobo Shelter community as survivors of natural disasters, which until now still occupies the Shelter due to the liquefaction disaster on September 28, 2018 and is currently facing the Covid-19 pandemic situation. This study uses proxemic theory to view space and distance in the formation of communication, and the theory of violation of expectations. This research method is descriptive qualitative where in its approach, the researcher uses data conclusions and in-depth interviews. The results of this study indicate that the communication experience of the residents of the Petobo Shelter has adapted to the conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic. Interacting using a mask is not easy, apart from being required to speak a little louder than usual due to the muffled voice by the mask, the function of body movements is also to be a support for conveying messages due to voice conditions that are sometimes less audible and mouth movements are not legible. The quantity of communication itself is also reduced for communication activities during the Covid-19 pandemic, especially at the beginning of the pandemic when the number of cases of people exposed to it is high. Communication on a secondary basis or using media such as cellphones or gadgets is an option to communicate during the high number of cases of the spread of Covid-19 and also not to infect each other if there must be an in-person meeting.

Trainee Therapists' Perceptions of a Blended Intervention to Promote Resilience after a Natural Disaster: A Qualitative Case Study.

Background: Natural disasters happen in an increased frequency, and telemental health interventions could offer easily accessible help to reduce mental health symptoms experienced by survivors. However, there are very few programs offered to natural disaster survivors, and no research exists on therapists’ experiences with providing blended interventions for natural disaster survivors. Aims: Our qualitative case study aims to describe psychologists’ experiences with an online, therapist-assisted blended intervention for survivors of the Fort McMurray wildfires in Alberta, Canada. Method: The RESILIENT intervention was developed in the frames of a randomized controlled trial to promote resilience after the Fort McMurray wildfires by providing survivors free access to a 12-module, therapist-assisted intervention, aiming to improve post-traumatic stress, insomnia, and depression symptoms. A focus group design was used to collect data from the therapists, and emerging common themes were identified by thematic analysis. Results: Therapists felt they could build strong alliances and communicate emotions and empathy effectively, although the lack of nonverbal cues posed some challenges. The intervention, according to participating therapists, was less suitable for participants in high-stress situations and in case of discrepancy between client expectations and the intervention content. Moreover, the therapists perceived specific interventions as easy-to-use or as more challenging based on their complexity and on the therapist support needed for executing them. Client engagement in the program emerged as an underlying theme that had fundamental impact on alliance, communication, and ultimately, treatment efficiency. Therapist training and supervision was perceived as crucial for the success of the program delivery. Conclusions: Our findings provided several implications for the optimalization of blended interventions for natural disaster survivors from our therapists’ perspective.

Seven-year incidence of new-onset hypertension by frequency of dairy intake among survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Survivors of natural disasters are at a high risk of cardiovascular disease. Behavioral risk factors, including modifiable diet, need to be identified. Thus far, the association between dairy intake and new-onset hypertension among these survivors is unknown. Therefore, we investigated this relationship. We conducted a longitudinal cohort study of 4475 survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 who participated in a 7-year follow-up survey. New-onset hypertension was assessed using annual health checkup data. Information on the frequency of dairy intake was obtained using a self-report questionnaire. The hazard ratio for developing hypertension according to the frequency of dairy intake was calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression models. The total number of person-years observed was 20,042, with a median follow-up of 5.4 years. During the observation period, 1554 individuals developed hypertension. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios of new-onset hypertension were significantly lower in those who consumed dairy products once per day (0.82, 95% confidence interval 0.71-0.94) and twice or more times per day (0.84, 95% confidence interval 0.71-0.99) than in nonconsumers; the inverse linear trend was marginally significant (P = 0.083). This association was not affected by lipid metabolism and was consistent across subgroups by sex, age, behavioral factors, cardiometabolic factors, and housing type due to the disaster. A higher frequency of dairy intake was associated with a lower risk of new-onset hypertension in community-dwelling survivors of earthquakes and tsunamis. Dietary guidance involving dairy intake could reduce the risk of developing hypertension among these survivors.

Addressing climate anxiety among young people in the Philippines

Addressing climate anxiety among young people in the Philippines

Association between Prior and Later Occurrence of Shoulder Pain Episodes: A 5-Year Longitudinal Study after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Shoulder pain is more common among survivors of natural disasters than the general population. This study aimed to examine the occurrence of shoulder pain, especially the association between prior and later shoulder pain episodes, in survivors living in coastal areas severely damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) (n = 1,821) over a period of 5 years. The presence of shoulder pain was assessed at 2 (first period), 4 (second period), and 7 (third period) years after the disaster. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between shoulder pain during the first and second periods and shoulder pain during the third period. Shoulder pain in the first period was significantly associated with shoulder pain in the third period [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 5.93; 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.06-8.66]. Furthermore, shoulder pain in the first and second periods was significantly associated with shoulder pain in the third period. With the absence of shoulder pain in both the first and second periods used as the reference, adjusted ORs for the presence of shoulder pain during each period and both periods were 4.58 (95% CI 3.17-6.62) and 15.54 (95% CI 8.38-28.84), respectively (P for trend < 0.001). Thus, prior shoulder pain was significantly associated with shoulder pain after 5 years among GEJE survivors, and the association was stronger as the number of prior shoulder pain episodes increased. This expertise should be shared with other expert teams to address the affected people and prepare for future disasters.

Home is Restoration: Towards a Health-Based Model of the Importance of Home for Survivors of Natural Disasters

Home is Restoration: Towards a Health-Based Model of the Importance of Home for Survivors of Natural Disasters

Home is restoration: Towards a health-based model of the importance of home for survivors of natural disasters

Something fundamental for health lies in the relationship between individuals and their homes, and it is missed by entire populations after destructive natural disasters. Although previous research has verified the importance of home to the psychological and physiological well-being of adults in normal conditions, natural disaster recovery plans still ignore the impact that recreating a sense of home in transitional and permanent relocation environments can have in the relief of stress and depression of the displaced people. This exploratory study draws upon the theory of embodied cognition to explain the interrelationship between home environments and physical and psychological restoration. Through a phenomenologically based analysis of in-depth interviews with five survivors of the 2018 Paradise Camp Fire, a review of the literature on home, and empirical evidence and theory from the cognitive sciences, an enriched definition of home is formulated on the basis that the pleasant feelings of home are a result of the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, a physiological restorative process that is associated with environmental cues and is impaired in no-home environments. The provisional findings of this study suggest that improving access to suitable homes can be an effective non-invasive measure to prevent long-term negative health effects of relocation after a natural disaster, and that displaced individuals should always be involved in the decision-making about relocation and rebuilding. For that purpose, this study proposes a thirteen-topic survey to identify the themes that can provide a sense of home to each individual affected by displacement. • Natural disaster survivors interviewed about the meaning of home. • Hypothesized that feelings of home activate the parasympathetic nervous system. • Home is restoration from an embodied cognition perspective. • Disaster recovery policy could prevent the negative health effects of relocation.

The Relationship Between Depression, Perceived Social Support, and Suicide Risk in Natural Disaster Survivors.

Natural disasters often cause a wide array of post-traumatic psychological difficulties among survivors. Increased suicide risk was recently added to the list of lingering traumatic reactions that interfere with natural disaster survivors' adjustment and recovery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between psychological symptoms, perceived social support, and the risk of suicide among natural disaster survivors in Korea. A total of 451 Korean national disaster survivors participated in this study. Their depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms, perceived social support, and suicide risk were measured. The participants were classified into three groups (minimal, low, and high suicide risk), and the psychosocial factors of the three groups were compared. The risk of suicide increased with the severity of depressive symptoms and decreased as social support (particularly family support) increased. Depressive symptoms were identified as the most potent predictor of suicidality. Several psychosocial factors, particularly depressive symptoms, may have an impact on suicide risk in natural disaster survivors. Therefore, it is essential to focus on their depressive symptoms when assessing and treating natural disaster survivors.

Association Between Sleep Disturbance and Low Back Pain: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study After the Great East Japan Earthquake.

A longitudinal study. The aim of this study was to clarify the association between sleep disturbance and low back pain (LBP) using 3-year longitudinal data after the Great East Japan Earthquake, with a focus on the duration or frequency of sleep disturbance and the effect of sleep disturbance on LBP. Sleep disturbance and LBP are common health problems in the general population and natural disaster survivors. However, a longitudinal study in this field is rare, and the association between sleep disturbance and LBP has not been clarified. A 3-year longitudinal study was conducted among people living in disaster-stricken areas after the Great East Japan Earthquake (n = 2059). Sleep disturbance and LBP were assessed at 4, 5, 6, and 7 years after the disaster. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between the duration or frequency of sleep disturbance and LBP, and the effect of preceding sleep disturbance on the onset of LBP. The χ2 test and crude and multiple logistic regression models were used in data analysis. The duration and frequency of sleep disturbance were significantly associated with LBP, and the effect was stronger with longer duration and increased frequency of sleep disturbance. Furthermore, the duration and frequency of preceding sleep disturbance were significantly associated with the onset of LBP, and the effect was stronger with an increase in the duration and frequency of sleep disturbance. Sleep disturbance is associated with LBP in a dose-dependent manner. Attention should be paid to sleep disturbance for the treatment and prevention of LBP, especially with regard to the duration and frequency of sleep disturbance.Level of Evidence: 3.

Counselors’ Experience with Disaster Survivors of Natural Disasters: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study

Disaster survivors are individuals who are literally survived in the aftermath of disaster situations. They are dislocated from their affected homes to evacuation centers; and forced to leave behind all belongings. Due to the characteristics of disasters that are sudden and catastrophic, disaster survivors often experience substantial symptoms of distress and respond with psychological and psychosocial reactions. This qualitative research was conducted using a descriptive phenomenological study approach to explore, understand, and describe the experience of counselors during natural disasters in Malaysian. The authors were the primary instrument for data collection and analysis. Data included field notes and individual semi-structured in-depth interviews. The authors developed coding categories using ATLAS.ti. The themes that emerged were refined, and became the major and sub-themes for this research. This research found that the experience gained from the disaster survivors during the disaster situations has developed the understanding and addressing the complexity of satisfying disaster survivors’ critical needs during natural disasters. It was also informed that providing crisis support during natural disaster has brought plethora of experiences and knowledge that should be shared with other counselors in Malaysia.

The 5-Year Course of Neck Pain Among Natural Disaster Survivors: The Association of Prior Neck Pain with New Episodes of Neck Pain.

Neck pain is a common health problem among both the general population and natural disaster survivors. However, the long-term course of neck pain has rarely been reported. The aim of this study was to elucidate the 5-year course of neck pain among survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) by assessing the association of neck pain 2 and 4 years after the disaster with that at 7 years. Longitudinal study. A panel study was conducted on GEJE survivors (n = 1,821) through the administration of a self-reported questionnaire at 2 (first time point), 4 (second time point), and 7 years (third time point) after the disaster. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between prior neck pain and subsequent neck pain. The rates of neck pain at the first, second, and third time points were 20.7%, 21.1%, and 20.1%, respectively. Neck pain at the first time point was significantly associated with neck pain at the third time point (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 5.96 [4.53-7.83]). Furthermore, neck pain at the first and second time points was significantly associated with neck pain at the third time point (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 5.71 [4.19-7.78] for neck pain at either time point; 15.94 [10.99-23.12] for neck pain at both time points; P for trend <0.001). Prior neck pain was significantly associated with neck pain 5 years later, and the effect was stronger with an increase of prior neck pain episodes. Clinicians should base their selection of treatment method on an individual's history of neck pain.