Assessing the role of socio-demographic characteristics, social support and formal disaster assistance in predicting the subjective recovery of flood survivors in Pakistan

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of socio-demographic characteristics of the 2010 flood victims, their flood exposure, and social and formal support on the post-flood subjective recovery. It seeks to illuminate the factors best correlating with life recovery feelings of the respondents. Regression analysis of survey data showed that period of return to home, annual income, family size, material damage and social support had a significant effect on the life recovery of the respondents. More specifically, the period of return to home and material loss had a negative effect on the life recovery feelings of flood victims. Annual income of the respondents, family size and social support had a positive effect on their life recovery feelings. Analysis also revealed that formal disaster support had a very negligible effect on life recovery. Furthermore, the analysis uncovered that social support helped to lessen the negative effects of material damage on the life recovery feelings of the survivors. The effects of annual income on life recovery feelings remained almost constant and significant in all the regression models, showcasing the importance of personal resources to recover from disaster. The study concludes that although both social and formal support are pivotal for post-flood subjective recovery, they are characterized by serious limitations. More nuanced longitudinal studies are required to understand the contours of long term disaster recovery process.