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Resilience and vulnerability to the psychological harm from flooding: The role of social cohesion

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  • Greene, G.
  • Paranjothy, S.
  • Palmer, S.R.

Abstract

Objectives. We examined the role of social cohesion as a component of vulnerability and resilience to the psychological distress of flooding. Methods. A survey collected data from 2238 individuals living in flood-affected areas of England (South Yorkshire and Worcestershire) in 2007. We used Bayesian structural equation modeling to assess factors relating to the latent variables of resilience (years in area, family nearby, and social cohesion) and vulnerability (disruption of essential services, flood risk, and previous flood experience). Results. Flooding was strongly associated with poor mental health; however, resilience factors (associated with the ability to cope with natural disasters), but not vulnerability, were strongly associated with a reduction in psychological distress. Conclusions. Resilience and social cohesion were important influences on the risk of developing poor mental health following flooding. Increasing resilience of communities by strengthening social cohesion through measures that increase civic participation and changing land use should be considered as potentially inexpensive and effective defenses against avoidable mental harm that will result from increased climate instability.

Suggested Citation

  • Greene, G. & Paranjothy, S. & Palmer, S.R., 2015. "Resilience and vulnerability to the psychological harm from flooding: The role of social cohesion," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(9), pages 1792-1795.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2015.302709_0
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302709
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    Cited by:

    1. Gloria Obuobi-Donkor & Ejemai Eboreime & Reham Shalaby & Belinda Agyapong & Medard K. Adu & Ernest Owusu & Wanying Mao & Folajinmi Oluwasina & Hannah Pazderka & Vincent I. O. Agyapong, 2022. "Evaluating Community Resilience and Associated Factors One Year after the Catastrophic Fort McMurray Flood," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Peter S. Larson & Carina Gronlund & Lyke Thompson & Natalie Sampson & Ramona Washington & Jamie Steis Thorsby & Natalie Lyon & Carol Miller, 2021. "Recurrent Home Flooding in Detroit, MI 2012–2020: Results of a Household Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-16, July.
    3. Keiko Iwasaki & Yasuyuki Sawada & Daniel P. Aldrich, 2017. "Social capital as a shield against anxiety among displaced residents from Fukushima," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 89(1), pages 405-421, October.
    4. Timo Assmuth & Tanja Dubrovin & Jari Lyytimäki, 2020. "Human health in systemic adaptation to climate change: insights from flood risk management in a river basin," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 40(3), pages 427-443, September.
    5. World Bank & Pham,Phuong & O’Mealia,Thomas & Wei,Carol & Bindu,Kennedy Kihangi & Makoond,Anupah & Vinck,Patrick Thierry, 2022. "Hosting New Neighbors : Perspectives of Host Communities on Social Cohesion inEastern DRC," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10099, The World Bank.
    6. Belinda Agyapong & Ejemai Eboreime & Reham Shalaby & Hannah Pazderka & Gloria Obuobi-Donkor & Medard K. Adu & Wanying Mao & Folajinmi Oluwasina & Ernest Owusu & Andrew J. Greenshaw & Vincent I. O. Agy, 2021. "Mental Health Impacts of Wildfire, Flooding and COVID-19 on Fort McMurray School Board Staff and Other Employees: A Comparative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-17, December.
    7. Jorge Moya & María Goenechea, 2022. "An Approach to the Unified Conceptualization, Definition, and Characterization of Social Resilience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-15, May.
    8. Robinette, Jennifer W. & Bostean, Georgiana & Glynn, Laura M. & Douglas, Jason A. & Jenkins, Brooke N. & Gruenewald, Tara L. & Frederick, David A., 2021. "Perceived neighborhood cohesion buffers COVID-19 impacts on mental health in a United States sample," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    9. Joana Cruz & Piran C. L. White & Andrew Bell & Peter A. Coventry, 2020. "Effect of Extreme Weather Events on Mental Health: A Narrative Synthesis and Meta-Analysis for the UK," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-17, November.
    10. Jayles, Bertrand & Cheong, Siew Ann & Herrmann, Hans J., 2022. "Modeling the resilience of social networks to lockdowns regarding the dynamics of meetings," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 602(C).
    11. Leininger, Julia & von Schiller, Armin & Strupat, Christoph & Malerba, Daniele, 2022. "Policy responses to COVID-19: Why social cohesion and social protection matter in Africa," IDOS Discussion Papers 20/2022, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    12. Sarita Silveira & Martin Hecht & Hannah Matthaeus & Mazda Adli & Manuel C. Voelkle & Tania Singer, 2022. "Coping with the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perceived Changes in Psychological Vulnerability, Resilience and Social Cohesion before, during and after Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-30, March.

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