Occupational disruption and natural disaster: Finding a ‘new normal’ in a changed context

Abstract

Abstract:Individuals affected by natural disasters can undergo critical life changes throughout the recovery process. With a forecast increase in frequency and impact of natural disasters it is important to consider the occupational recovery process that individuals experience postdisaster. This qualitative descriptive study explored the experience of occupational disruption and occupational recovery of individuals two years after Cyclone Yasi struck a small, regional town in Northern Queensland, Australia. Nine semi-structured interviews from long-term residents of the town affected by Cyclone Yasi were conducted two years after the event. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and independently coded using thematic analysis by three researchers. Five interrelated themes were identified through this research. These included: 'Recovery occupations'; 'Interruption to leisure and productive occupations'; 'Reconstruction: a second disaster'; 'Occupational liminality' and 'A new normal'. These themes point to a phased process of occupational recovery through which disaster survivors encounter numerous personal and contextual barriers, encumbering their return to re-engagement in meaningful occupational routines. The findings from this research offer insights into the support needs of both individuals and communities as they endeavour to overcome challenges associated with the recovery process.

Occupational disruptions during lockdown, by generation: A European descriptive cross-sectional survey

“…Our results can also be compared with Sima et al’s analysis of occupational disruption following a natural disaster (2017), in which five steps are needed to reach the ‘ new normal’ : recovery occupations, interruption to leisure and productive occupations, reconstruction as a second disaster, occupational liminality and, lastly, a new normal.…”

Occupational adaptation – analyzing the maturity and understanding of the concept through concept analysis

“…Interestingly, a number of papers failed to define the concept [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46], perhaps assuming prior understanding. Additionally, some authors ascribed the term to a simpler phenomenon of adapting occupations such as reducing the number of steps in the occupation or using modified equipment [32,[47][48][49][50][51].…”

“…The majority of papers identified occupational challenge as an antecedent of occupational adaptation. Others discussed different, but related, triggers including occupational disruption [23,43,46,7,[63][64][65], occupational identity disruption [33,[66][67][68][69],…”

Flooding and the ‘new normal’: what is the role of gender in experiences of post‐disaster ontological security?

“…Much of the research acknowledges a theme of liminality and uncertainty post disaster, and thus residents' common desire to reclaim a sense of normalcy (Dash et al, 2007; Tapsell and Tunstall, 2008; Carroll et al, 2009; Hawkins and Maurer, 2011; Sima, Thomas, and Lowrie, 2017). In the context of the current study, a ‘new normal’ is defined as a state following the initial disruption and shock produced by a disaster in which those affected have restored order to their lives as much as possible.…”