Lifespan Perspectives on Natural Disasters (eBook)

Katie E. Cherry, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology and Director of the Life Course and Aging Center at Louisiana State University. Her research expertise is adult development and aging with special emphasis on memory aging in healthy older adults. Her research is funded by the National Institute on Aging and the Louisiana Board of Regents. In 2002, she was awarded the Emogene Pliner Distinguished Professor of Aging Studies professorship for her contributions to the field of adult development and aging.

Contents 5
Natural Disasters from a Life Span Developmental Perspective: An Introduction 7
Introduction 7
Purpose and Content of this Book 9
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: A Snapshot of the Disasters 10
Developmental Considerations in a Disaster Context 11
Chapter Highlights 12
Conclusion 14
References 15
About the Contributors 17
Part I Children and Adolescents 24
1 Young Childrens Demonstrated Understanding of Hurricanes 25
Introduction 25
Destruction of Schools and the Effects on Developing Children 26
Development of Young Children 27
Young Children and Disasters 29
Early Childhood Education and Disasters 30
The Current Study 32
Teacher Survey 33
Geographic Differences in Language, Literacy, and Play 35
Hurricane Stories 35
Writing About the Hurricanes 37
Drawing Hurricane Experiences 37
Using Books About Hurricanes 38
Play 38
Conversations 38
Stages of Disasters Exhibited in Play and Conversations 39
Child Interviews 39
Discussion 42
Conclusion and Future Directions 43
References 45
2 An Ecological-Needs-Based Perspective of Adolescentand Youth Emotional Development in the Contextof Disaster: Lessons from Hurricane Katrina 49
Introduction 49
An Ecological Needs-Based Perspective 50
Research on the Effects of Katrina 52
Macrosystem Influences 52
Exosystem Influences 55
Mesosystem Influences 56
Microsystem Influences 58
Ontogenic Influences 59
Conclusions 62
References 63
3 Positive Adjustment in Youth Post-Katrina: The Impact of Child and Maternal Social Support and Coping 67
Introduction 67
Adjustment and Resilience Following Traumatic Events 67
Social Support and Adjustment 69
Coping and Adjustment 70
Current Study and Hypotheses 72
Results 76
Descriptive Statistics 76
Regression Analyses 77
Discussion 79
Additional Findings 82
Study Strengths and Limitations 82
Conclusions, Implications, and Future Research 82
References 83
4 The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Childrenand Adolescents: Conceptual and Methodological Implications for Assessment and Intervention 87
Introduction 87
Clinical Initiatives and Deployments to the Gulf Coast 88
Deployments to the Gulf Coast 88
Review of the Literature on Reactions to Katrina 90
Assessment 90
Interventions 94
Conceptualization of Childrens Functioning Following Traumatic Experiences 96
Future Research: Complimentary Models 104
Current and Future Challenges 107
Lessons Learned and Recommendations 107
The Breach 109
Recommendations for Interventions 110
Conclusion 111
References 111
Part II Young and Middle-Age Adults 117
5 The Psychological Impact of Hurricanes and Storms on Adults 118
Introduction 118
Diagnostic Considerations 119
Risk and Resiliency 120
Findings from Previous Hurricanes and Storms 122
Hurricane Katrina and Adults 124
Mental Illness, Prevalence Rates, and Associated Findings Following Katrina 124
Findings from Young Adults 125
Effects of Exposure to Hurricane Katrina 126
Effects of Displacement from the Gulf Coast 126
Racial Differences in the Experience of Hurricane Katrina and Resulting Psychological Impact 127
Effects of Katrina on Those with Pre-hurricane Storm Fears 127
Disruption to Service and Treatment 128
Conclusions 129
References 130
6 Families and Disasters: Making Meaning out of Adversity 134
Introduction 134
Theoretical Background and Related Literature 135
Current Study 136
Description of Targeted Study Site and Data Collection 137
Method 138
Results 138
Benefit Finding 139
Sense Making 140
Optimism 142
Humor 143
Discussion 144
Recommendations and Future Directions 145
References 149
Part III Older Adults and the Oldest-Old 152
7 Encounters with Katrina: Dynamics of Older Adults Social Support Networks 153
Introduction 153
Social Support in Late Life 154
Support for Older Adults in Times of Disasters 155
Older Adults in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina 156
Study Participants 156
Procedures 156
Questions and Measures 157
Coding and Analyses 158
Study Findings 158
The Journey out of New Orleans 158
Immediacy of Support: The Days Following Hurricane Katrina 159
Informal Support: Relationships and Interactions 161
Rebuilding Relationships 165
Perceptions of Support 166
Conclusions and Implications 166
References 170
8 Disaster Services with Frail Older Persons: From Preparation to Recovery 173
Introduction 173
Hurricane Aftereffects and the Elderly 174
The Effects of Evacuation and Transfer 176
Special Needs Shelters and Transportation Issues 177
The Hurricanes of 2008: Gustav and Ike 178
Disaster Preparation from a Social Work Perspective 180
Emergency Preparedness 180
Older Persons' Resilience and Exposure to Hurricanes 182
Disaster Planning Teams and Partnerships 183
Identifying High-Risk Elders 183
Social Work Roles and Risks -- Freelancing and Credentialing Issues 184
Conclusions and Implications 186
References 187
9 Natural Disasters and the Oldest-Old: A Psychological Perspective on Coping and Health in Late Life 190
Introduction 190
The Older Adult Population: A Snapshot of Late Life 192
Three Domains of Age-Related Change 192
Summary and Developmental Implications 194
Resilience and Coping in Late Adulthood 195
Review of Resilience 195
Review of Coping 197
Determinants of Adaptive Behavior in Older Adults 197
Coping with Katrina and Rita: LHAS Hurricane Study 199
Overview of Method 200
Results and Discussion 200
Conclusion and Implications 206
Psychological Implications 206
Practical Implications 208
References 209
10 Faith, Crisis, Coping, and Meaning Making After Katrina: A Qualitative, Cross-Cohort Examination 213
Introduction 213
Three Central Issues in Overview 214
Crisis 214
Coping 215
Meaning Making 216
Method 217
Sample and Interview Procedures 217
Analysis and Coding 217
Reflexivity 218
Findings 219
Theme 1''Crisis: Tragedy, Opportunity, or Simply ''Part of Life''? 219
Theme 2---Approaches to Coping: Comparison, Gratitude, Optimism, and Personal Strength 222
Theme 3''Meaning Making: ''God is in Control''Right?'' 225
Discussion 230
References 232
Part IV Special Topics 234
11 The Psychology Behind Helping and Prosocial Behaviors: An Examination from Intention to Action 235
Introduction 235
Why Do We Help? 236
Kin Selection View of Prosocial Behavior 237
Empathy--Altruism Hypothesis and Relief of Negative State 239
Cost--Reward Model 241
Belief in a Just World 243
Crossing the Barrier from Intention to Action 244
Life Span Development View 244
Disaster Helping Literature 247
Helping Others in the Aftermath of a Natural Disaster: Findings from the Louisiana Healthy Aging Study 249
Theme 1: Reports of ''Being Helped'' 250
Theme 2: Pride Through Association with a Faith Community 250
Theme 3: The Road Paved with Good Intentions, Noble Phrases, and Ethics 252
Theme 4: Bridging the Belief-to-Behavior Gap 252
Conclusion 253
References 254
12 Building a Disaster Mental Health Response to aCatastrophic Event: Louisiana and Hurricane Katrina 257
Introduction 257
Preparation and Response 258
Initial Response: The First Wave of Emergency Responding 260
SARBO -- I-10 -- Causeway Blvd and TMOSA -- New Orleans Airport 263
First-Responder Intervention 264
Mass Casualty Identification 265
Summary of Behavioral Health Activities 266
Initial Response: The Second Wave of Assistance to First Responders 267
Work on the Cruise Ships with First Responders and their Families 268
Initial Response: Assistance to Children and Schools 270
Work with Re-opening Schools 271
Summary 273
Conclusion 274
References 275
13 Disaster Recovery in Workplace Organizations 277
Introduction 277
Workplace Recovery in Overview 278
A Look at the Norm: Ordinary Disaster and Typical Approaches to OD 278
Ordinary Disasters Versus Catastrophic Disasters 279
Typical OD in Normal Circumstances 279
OD in Extraordinary Circumstances: Rebuilding Workplaces After Hurricane Katrina 280
Developmental Stages of Disaster Response 281
Pre-stage Crisis 281
During-Stage Emergency 281
Post-stage Disaster 282
Restoring Human, Operational, and Technical Organizational Structures 283
Recovering the Human Structure of an Organization 283
Recovering the Operational Structure of an Organization 286
Recovering the Technical Structure of an Organization 289
Practical and Scientific Suggestions for Workplace Disaster Recovery 290
Workplace Preparation and Planning 290
Future Research Directions 291
References 292
14 Disasters and Population Health 297
Introduction 297
Method 298
Results 298
Injury and Mortality 298
Health Systems and Infrastructure 305
Mental Health 311
Infectious Disease 320
Sources of Infection 322
Chronic Disease 324
Health Behavior 328
Conclusion 331
References 332
Subject Index 343