Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institute, Sweden; Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Leipzig, Germany.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2018 Jul-Aug;77:189-195. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2018.05.008. Epub 2018 May 17.
In many areas, natural disasters are a major challenge for life and property of people. Earthquake is one of the most devastating natural disasters. This study aimed to explore how older adults responded to challenges after the earthquake in Iran.
This study was based on qualitative analysis. Data were collected through in-depth and semi-structured interviews. 29 participants including 18 older adult survivors of the earthquake-stricken areas, four lay caregivers, and three health professionals in disasters, one social worker, two relief worker and one disaster psychologist were interviewed. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. The transcribed texts were analyzed using inductive qualitative content analysis recommended by Graneheim and Lundman (2004).
The study explored two main categories regarding older adults' responses to challenges after the earthquake: adaptive and maladaptive responses. Adaptive response has been developed by four factors including; religious coping, sharing feelings and information, coping with new activities, roles and place. Also, maladaptive response was included; the lack of motivation to search for relief supplies, undue dependency, and decrease of social activities.
Service providers are recommended to identify the patterns of vulnerability and cultural sensitivities in older adults' responses to manage the negative consequences of disasters on older adults. Furthermore, older adults can make a substantial contribution in recovery programs based on the adaptive responses, such as helping in the rescue efforts and psychological support from family and community after disasters.
在许多地区，自然灾害对人民的生命和财产都是重大挑战。地震是最具破坏性的自然灾害之一。本研究旨在探讨老年人在伊朗地震后如何应对挑战。
本研究基于定性分析。通过深入和半结构化访谈收集数据。共采访了 29 名参与者，包括 18 名地震灾区的老年幸存者、4 名非专业护老者、3 名灾害卫生专业人员、1 名社会工作者、2 名救援工作者和 1 名灾难心理学家。采访进行了录音和记录。使用 Graneheim 和 Lundman（2004 年）推荐的归纳定性内容分析法对转录文本进行分析。
本研究探讨了老年人在地震后应对挑战的两个主要类别：适应性和非适应性反应。适应性反应由四个因素发展而来，包括宗教应对、分享感受和信息、应对新活动、角色和场所。非适应性反应包括：缺乏寻找救济物资的动机、过度依赖和社会活动减少。
建议服务提供者识别老年人对灾害的脆弱性模式和文化敏感性，以管理灾害对老年人的负面影响。此外，老年人可以根据适应性反应在恢复计划中做出重大贡献，例如在灾难发生后协助救援工作和提供家庭和社区的心理支持。
