This article is based on a review of a growing literature that examines disasters as experienced globally by older adults. The authors utilize a life course perspective that allows them to view the impact of experiencing a disaster for individuals within the context of their life experiences, memories, values, and views. The authors urge consideration of how individual and social history and memory affect the experience, coping strategies, and effects of disasters on older adults. The analysis is organized by the following four themes derived from the literature: (a) physical impact, (b) psychological impact, (c) social support issues, and (d) predictors of mental health distress. The authors highlight the challenges and issues of disasters, specifically for the aging population, including age, gender, and coping styles.
This article has been retracted due to the republishing of this article in the December 2009 issue of Traumatology, 15(4). The republishing is due to the necessity of including this article as a part of a Special Issue on “History, Memory and Trauma” in 15(4), for which this article was originally picked by Special Issue Guest Editor, Dr. Joseph Gabriel. Please find the republished article now in Traumatology, 15(4) 35–43. DOI: 10.1177/1534765609359729.
We examine the experiences of older adult survivors of the August 2007 "Southern earthquake" in Peru within the cultural context of gender roles and family relationships. The data include 24 semistructured videotaped interviews conducted in Pisco in December 2007 with survivors of the earthquake aged 60-90. The responses, experiences, and adjustments of the older adult disaster survivors will be discussed in terms of their family and social support systems and gender roles. These older adults sustain their personal identities and deal with their health concerns in the aftermath of the earthquake in the context of these cultural systems of support.
Common prejudices disguised in various forms against the disabled are discussed in this paper. Specifically, it was investigated whether socially responsible behaviors can be stimulated by providing information about the life conditions of the disabled. Two hypotheses were proposed
and tested. Alterations in the nondisabled participants' perception of the disabled were evaluated through analysis of the results with regard to age, level of education, and income. Furthermore, relations between the independent variables and the tendency to participate in social activities
which can be regarded as socially responsible behaviors were investigated. Results show that Turkish society could pay more attention to the questions of how life conditions of the disabled can be improved and how they can be enabled to participate more in social life. In particular, members
of society should revise aspects of their perception of the disabled that are incorrect or ill informed.
It is concluded that the interactional thesis sets a better ground for explanation of the circumstances of the disabled and response of the society to them in Turkey.
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