Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses: Doctorates and Masters Theses 1-1-2004 Indicators of community resilience : a study of communities facing impending natural disasters Julie A. Pooley Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses Part of the Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Pooley, J. A. (2004). Indicators of community resilience : a study of communities facing impending natural disasters. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/795 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/795 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorize you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. You are reminded of the following: Copyright owners are entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. A reproduction of material that is protected by copyright may be a copyright infringement. Where the reproduction of such material is done without attribution of authorship, with false attribution of authorship or the authorship is treated in a derogatory manner, this may be a breach of the author’s moral rights contained in Part IX of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Courts have the power to impose a wide range of civil and criminal sanctions for infringement of copyright, infringement of moral rights and other offences under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Higher penalties may apply, and higher damages may be awarded, for offences and infringements involving the conversion of material into digital or electronic form. USE OF THESIS The Use of Thesis statement is not included in this version of the thesis. Indicators of Community Resilience: A Study of Communities Facing Impending Natural Disasters Julie Ann Pooley BAppSc PGradOlpPsych MPsych A Thesis Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of Doctor of Phllosophy at the Faculty Community Services, Education and Social Sciences, Edith Cowan University Date of Submission: 1_" 4'" Noveml>w 'Zco'r WA Disaster Communities ABSTRACT Disasters are defined as a 'crisis event ln which the demands being placed on a human system, by ihe event, exceed the systems capacity to respond' (Bolin, 1989, p. 62). In the llterature the negafive consequences of disasters are focused at the individual level and fall lo take Into account the context In which Individuals live and where the disaster oeeurred. Few studies utilize residents within a disaster community to define the factors that are relevant to their disaster experience especially In Australian setllngs. Thls present studies view of disasters places the Individual within an ecological system to understand their disaster experience and lhe disaster experience of the community. In viewing the disaster experience the present study seek!! lo Identify the stress and growth outcomes as a more holistic account of the disaster experience. The present study utll!zes residents from a Western Australian disaster community lo identify the salient factors related to the disaster experience. The research questions addressed by the current study are (1) Whal factors are Important in understanding the experience of community members living wltll the tllreat of natural seasonal disasters in Western Australia? (2) Wllat Is !he relationship between the community, individual and disaster experience varlables In different communities In Western Australia? (3) What Is the best predictor of posttraumatlc stress? (4) What Is tile best predictor of posttraumalic growth? (5) Wllat variables differentiate lligh and low stress groups? (6) What variables differentiate h!gh and low growtll groups? (7) Wllat are Ille community and indMdual factors tllat mediate tile disaster experience In communities In Western Australia? Specifically a} which ii WA Disaster CommunlHes community variables act as antecedents of the lndlvldual variables; b} which Individual variables Impact the posttraumatlc stress and posttraumallc growth associated with disasters. In order to address these key questions the first study alms to determine what factors are Important In understanding the experience of community members llving with the threat of natural seasonal bushtires through thematically analysing 15 resident Interviews from the community of Darlington, Perth, Western Australia. Results Indicated that self-efficacy, coping style, social networks, sense of community and community competence were salient factors, which were Included in the second study. In addition to the factors Identified In stage one, factors Identified Jn the literature, as relevant to the disaster experience (poslll'aumatlc stress and posttraumalic growth), were included through the use of scales In a survey, which was completed by four communities In the Northwest of Auslralla. In order to understand the results, data was analysed using different statistical methods such as correlations, regression analysis, and discriminate function analys!s. The results provided a comprehensive view of the relationships between these multiple factors and their lmporlance to the disaster experience variables. Path analysis ordered the Importance of the variables within each community to the disaster experience of each community. To further h!ghl!ght the contexts of each individual community a combined path model was produced. The present study provides contributlons to theory In that It comprehenslvely links the community context, (sense of community and community competence) to the lndlv!dual context (self efficacy, cop!ng style and social networks). Resilience of the iii WA Disaster Communities community Is mediated by the resilience of the Individuals in relation to the disaster experience (slress and growth). Results Indicate lhe relative Importance of self­ efficacy to the experience of stress and growth In disasters and that different styles of coping are inextricably linked lo each other. Contributions lo practice Indicate that for emergency management organizations there Is no universal method of practice, Local com mu nm es need to be understood in terms of their contexts to effectively develop and implement prevention programs. Melhodologlcal considerations for future studies are addressed. First, response rates of participants need to be addressed, however as there Is little psychological research on these communities and this present study provides a basis for future research. Second, the cross-sectlonal nature of this study could be strengthened through longitudinal studies of these communities and the strength of the current research rs the multilevel, muttifactorial approach taken. Future studies need to determine what other variable/s, not Included In thls study, are Important to the disaster experience of these communrnes. Lastly this research provides evidence for the Important contribution of the social sciences and In particular community psychology to the disaster arena. WA Disaster Communities DECLARATION I certify that this thesis does not Incorporate without acknowledgement any material prevlously submitted for a degree or diploma In any Institution of higher education; and that lo the be~t of my knowledge and bellef does not contain any material previously published or written by another person except where due reference Js made fn the text. s1,,a1, ... ····················· Date ...••••••.••• ../9...4..11.f.. .. ?99.f. ................. ' WA D1sas1er CommooiUes ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are many people to thank when someone undertakes a PhD. It Is a lovely tradition that at one level seems straight forward but at another when you think of what It Is that your writing you realize that you need lo say It to the (ndlvlduals who have helped, guided supported and loved you, not really write It. So I think that as my first task after the PhD, I pledge to tell those around me how glad and fortunate I am to have them In my life. There are though some people who need to be thanked her!;! on this page. I open with thanking my famlly. Peter, Charlotte and Samee, words have no way of expressing how you support me and how I love you all. This PhD Is the older sibling to our beauurul chlldren. To my brother and hi~ wonderful f&,nlly, Jeremy, Katrina and Taya, I am so grateful for the green grass that connects us. Thanks Trtn for all your work. Our Cousins, Debbie, Damon, Trent and Hudson who continue to be partners in, and fill me with, life, travel and spirit. Thank you to my Mum who made me who I am and gave everything to do so. To my grandparents (Benita and Alek) who next to my mum raised me and make me so proud to be a part ofthelr fam!ly. To my aunts (Lynda, Silvia, Adele, Sandy) and uncles (Alek, Karl and Jim) who are like brothers and sisters, thank you for being my cotton wool when I was growing up and my friends now. Thanks Tamara, Emma and Amy you girts are lnspirallonal. To my Dad (Peter) who has taught me more things than I think he ever realizes. Thank you for raising me like your own flesh and blood. To Pal, Gerry, Beth, Gerry, Breeanne, Josh and Cody thanks for always helping with our girls. To Tim, Debbie and the gorgeous Pooley Boys (Ben, Luke, Tom and Sam) thank you for all your love and support. Ben thanks for all the work I will return the favour. To my colleagues past and present. To the oflglnals John Carroll, Noel Howieson, Lis Pike, Neil Drew, Moira O'Connor and Adele Hiiis. I could not have done this without you. To the staff at the School of Psychology, Craig, Lynne, Paul, Delrdre, DI, Eyal, Elizabeth, Greg, Terry, Alison, Teresa, Susan, Daniel and Simon. Thanks. To Sherryl for her support and encouragement and Role model. To my friend, traveling partner and colleague Lynne thank you for being you and being with me. To Us thank you for your guidance and support. To the best staff In the school Sue, Trish, Carole, Nicky, Alison and Ho you guys are the reason I stay and why I am so sane.