What does it mean to psychologically prepare for a disaster? A systematic review

Boylan, Jessica L.; Lawrence, Carmen

doi:10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101480

Cited by 26 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…However, our findings, in conjunction with past research, do suggest that planning alone is not enough to help farmers cope with drought, and that the promotion of acceptance as a cognitive coping strategy is also important in protecting and building their well‐being. This is somewhat consistent with models of psychological preparedness for disaster that not only focus on proactive planning for threats, but also include cognitive components on perceived control over one's own coping and the environment 42 …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Why are some drought‐affected farmers less distressed than others? The association between stress, psychological distress, acceptance, behavioural disengagement and neuroticism

Gunn

Turnbull

Dollman

et al. 2021

Australian J Rural Health

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Objective To identify the modifiable psychological and behavioural coping strategies associated with low levels of psychological distress, independent of more stable personality and demographic factors, in a sample of farmers who reported being exposed to a recent stressful event during an extended drought. Design/setting/participants Three hundred and nine South Australian, drought‐affected grain, sheep and/or cattle farmers completed printed or online questionnaires. Only those who reported experiencing a stressful event in the past month that they rated ≥7 on a scale ranging from 1 (not stressful at all) to 10 (extremely stressful) were included in the analyses (n = 175, 65.06%). Participants ranged in age from 24 to 85 years and 40% were female. Main outcome measures Psychological distress was measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, and coping strategies were measured using a situational version of the COPE inventory. Five personality factors (extraversion, neuroticism, openness, conscientiousness and agreeableness) were assessed using the Quickscales‐R. Results In the final multivariable model, distress was elevated among individuals reporting higher neuroticism and behavioural disengagement, and lower in individuals reporting greater use of acceptance. These 3 variables explained 44% of the variance in distress. Conclusion Farmers recently exposed to a significant stressor, who used acceptance as a coping strategy, did not engage in behavioural disengagement and scored low on neuroticism, were least likely to experience distress. Given the stability of personality factors, interventions that foster farmers' use of acceptance and prevent behavioural disengagement as coping strategies might assist them with the management of future stressors, particularly in times of drought.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Why are some drought‐affected farmers less distressed than others? The association between stress, psychological distress, acceptance, behavioural disengagement and neuroticism

Gunn

Turnbull

Dollman

et al. 2021

Australian J Rural Health

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show abstract

“…Many of the coping strategies observed within the diarists' responses shared a collective or social focus such as volunteering and community action, or were related to people's sense of belonging or identity to a community or place. Such dimensions of control, identity and belonging are protective for mental health in their own right, 41 but could, arguably, also contribute to psychological preparedness in the context of future crises 42 . Paradoxically, however, our study also showed that experiences of shielding and lockdown as well as official discourses surrounding vulnerability posed a risk to people's sense of autonomy, independence and confidence, with implications for well‐being.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 57%

“…Such dimensions of control, identity and belonging are protective for mental health in their own right, 41 but could, arguably, also contribute to psychological preparedness in the context of future crises. 42 Paradoxically, however, our study also showed that experiences of shielding and lockdown as well as official discourses surrounding vulnerability posed a risk to people's sense of autonomy, independence and confidence, with implications for well‐being. This finding reflects wider debates in relation to the extent to which public, media and professional discourses may undervalue the strengths and contributions of older adults or at‐risk groups during crisis periods.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

‘A lot of small things make a difference’. Mental health and strategies of coping during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Halliday

Holt

Khan

et al. 2021

Health Expectations

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Introduction The social and economic consequences of COVID‐19 have the potential to affect individuals and populations through different pathways (e.g., bereavement, loss of social interaction). Objective This study adopted a solicited diary method to understand how mental health was affected during England's first lockdown. We also considered the experiences of diary keeping during a pandemic from the perspective of public participants. Methods Fifteen adults older than 18 years of age were recruited from northwest England. Diarists completed semistructured online diaries for 8 weeks, which was combined with weekly calls. A focus group captured participants' experiences of diary keeping. Findings Four key factors influenced mental health, which fluctuated over time and in relation to diarists' situations. These concerned navigating virus risk, loss of social connections and control and constrictions of the domestic space. Diarists also enacted a range of strategies to cope with the pandemic. This included support from social networks, engagement with natural environments, establishing normality, finding meaning and taking affirmative action. Conclusion Use of diary methods provided insights into the lived experiences of the early months of a global pandemic. As well as contributing evidence on its mental health effects, diarists' accounts illuminated considerable resourcefulness and strategies of coping with positive effects for well‐being. While diary keeping can also have therapeutic benefits during adversity, ethical and practical issues need to be considered, which include the emotional nature of diary keeping. Public Contribution Members of the public were involved in interpretation of data as well as critiquing the overall diary method used in the study.

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“…The distinction of both psychological and emotional aspects of LDP in this study contributes to the pandemic and emergency preparedness literature, where emotional preparedness has received relatively less attention from scholars [ 50 , 51 ] until recently [ 52 ]. One of the reasons for this is the conceptual overlap between the two dimensions, where individuals' psychological preparedness may encompass their emotional regulation processes [ 48 ], thus making it difficult for researchers and participants to establish a clear distinction whenever such terms are used or measured [ 51 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and validation of a lockdown preparedness scale: Understanding lockdown preparedness through a social vulnerability perspective

Goh

Tandoc²

2022

International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction

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What does it mean to psychologically prepare for a disaster? A systematic review

Cited by 26 publications

References 21 publications

Why are some drought‐affected farmers less distressed than others? The association between stress, psychological distress, acceptance, behavioural disengagement and neuroticism

Why are some drought‐affected farmers less distressed than others? The association between stress, psychological distress, acceptance, behavioural disengagement and neuroticism

‘A lot of small things make a difference’. Mental health and strategies of coping during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Development and validation of a lockdown preparedness scale: Understanding lockdown preparedness through a social vulnerability perspective

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