Prediction and Understanding of Resilience in Albertan Families: Longitudinal Study of Disaster Responses (PURLS) – Protocol

Abstract

Exposure to a natural disaster in childhood can have serious, long-lasting consequences, impacting physical and mental health, development, and learning. Although many children experience negative effects after a disaster, the majority do not, and what differentiates these groups is not well understood. Some of the factors that influence disaster-related outcomes in the midst of adversity include parents’ mental health, the home environment, and socioeconomic status. Furthermore, genetics has also a role to play in how children respond to stressors. We had the opportunity to conduct a natural experiment of disaster recovery following the Alberta 2013 Flood. This paper presents the detailed protocol on prediction of resilience in Albertan families, and validation with cortisol data. In addition, data collection procedures, developing resiliency screening tools, candidate gene identification, genotyping, DNA methylation, and genomic analyses are described to achieve the research objectives. This study produced new knowledge by using pre- and post-disaster information on children’s health and development, including children’s genetics and responses to stress. This information has been identified as important to governments and other organizations invested in early child development. Our comprehensive research plan generates evidence that can be mobilized population-based approaches to improve child and family resiliency.

Predictors of child resilience in a community-based cohort facing flood as natural disaster

“…The flood impact survey was administered 6 months after the flood and 1711 participants completed the survey. The families who consented to participate in the survey were subsequently sent an electronic survey to assess child resilience [31].…”

“…A detailed description of the AOF cohort, study design, and samples are described in the previously published study [34]. The questionnaires used in the current study were published elsewhere [31,34]. Briefly, participants were recruited from primary health care offices, the Calgary Laboratory Service, and community posters.…”

“…Majority of the respondents were born in Canada, married and belonged to Caucasian ethnicity, had higher income (>$CAD 60,000 per annum) and education. Moreover, the participants were either pregnant women and/or mothers of young children [31,34].…”

“…The PURLS resilience study was a sub-study of AOF cohort that was started in September 2016. The main goal for the PURLS resilience study was to study the relationship between maternal factors with child resilience in the face of common life adversities and Calgary flood using a combination of psychosocial, biological and genetic data, and detailed protocol for this study has been published [31]. Briefly, the PURLS resilience survey was emailed to the eligible PURLS participants between September 2016 and October 2017.…”

“…All those who completed the PURLS resilience questionnaire were considered for the analysis. In those 469 who consented to be part of the study and completed at least some of the questionnaire, 467 were eligible to be included for analysis [31]. Majority (67%) of the children at the time of flood questionnaire (Table 2) were 36 months old or more.…”