This research examines differential vulnerability to environmental stressors among white and black elderly and non-elderly disaster victims. The research identifies the determinants of psychosocial recovery for those four demographic groups. A total of 431 families who were victims of a tornado were interviewed for the study. A path model of the determinants of psychosocial recovery is presented, and observations are made regarding intervention strategies for older disaster victims.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BurgessE., The Family as a Unity of Interacting Personalities, The Family, 7, pp. 3–9, 1926.
2.
HillR., Families Under Stress, Harper, New York, NY, 1949.
3.
BurrW., Theory Construction and the Sociology of the Family, Wiley, New York, NY, 1973.
4.
GleserG.GreenB., and WingetC., Prolonged Psychosocial Effects of Disaster: A Study of Buffalo Creek, Academic Press, New York, NY, 1981.
5.
DrabekT. and KeyW., Conquering Disaster: Family Recovery and Long-Term Consequences, Irvington, New York, NY, 1984.
6.
TierneyK. and BaidsenB., Crises Intervention Programs for Disaster Victims: A Source Book and Manual for Smaller Communities, DHEW Publication No. (ADM) 79-675, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1979.
7.
BolinR., Long-Term Family Recovery from Disaster, Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 1982.
8.
BolinR., Impact and Recovery: A Comparison of Black and White Disaster Victims, paper presented at the meetings of the American Sociological Association, San Antonio, Texas, 1984.
9.
McCubbinH., Integrating Coping Behavior in Family Stress Theory, Journal of Marriage and the Family, 41, pp. 237–244, 1979.
10.
CohenE. and PoulshockS., Societal Response to Mass Dislocation of the Elderly, Gerontologist, 17, pp. 262–268, 1977.
11.
FriedsamH., Reactions of Older Persons to Disaster-Caused Losses: An Hypothesis of Relative Deprivation, The Gerontologist, 1, pp. 34–37, 1961.
12.
MooreH., Tornadoes Over Texas, University of Texas Press, Austin, TX, 1958.
13.
KilijanekT. and DrabekT., Assessing Long-Term Impacts of a Natural Disaster: A Focus on the Elderly, The Gerontologist, 19, pp. 555–566, 1979.
14.
MooreH. and FriedsamH., Reported Emotional Stress Following a Disaster, Social Forces, 38, pp. 135–139, 1959.
15.
LiftonR. and OlsonE., The Human Meaning of Total Disaster: The Buffalo Creek Experience, Psychiatry, 39, pp. 1–18, 1976.
16.
BolinR. and BoltonP., Race and Ethnicity in Disaster Recovery, Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 1986.
17.
HuenitaF. and HortonR., Coping Behavior of Elderly Flood Victims, The Gerontologist, 6, pp. 541–546, 1978.
18.
BolinR. and KlenowD., Response of the Elderly in Disaster, International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 4, pp. 283–296, 1983.
19.
SolomonS., Enhancing Social Support for Disaster Victims, pp. 107–121, in Disasters and Mental Health: Selected Contemporary Perspectives. SowderBarbara J. (ed.) DHHS Publication No. (ADM) 85-1421. Washington, D.C., Government Printing Office.
