Adolescent Substance Abuse Articles
People respond to disasters in different ways
By Staff Writer
There are a number of ways people may cope with the aftermath of a natural or manmade disaster. For some, the fallout can be severe, and leads to the development of conditions that require cognitive therapy, such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or drive an individual to abuse drugs or alcohol. Others might simply experience passing distress.
A group of researchers recently set out to analyze how different people cope with the effects of a disaster in a report published in Psychological Science in the Public Interest.
Several factors might be responsible for the different reactions to a disaster, according to the report, including one’s age. Research shows that children may have a more extreme psychological response than adult survivors. However, in most cases, this distress is only temporary. In terms of adults, the older they are, the easier it is for them to overcome a disaster.
Another factor is one’s socioeconomic status. Death tolls in poorer nations tend to be larger due to a lack of infrastructure and emergency response. In addition, low income is often identified as a predictor of PTSD, according to the report.
Following a disaster, the researchers said a psychological intervention might prove effective.
