A scoping review of post-disaster social support investigations conducted after disasters that struck the Australia and Oceania continent |
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| Authors: | Krzysztof Kaniasty Ian de Terte Johnrev Guilaran Simon Bennett |
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| Institution: | 1. Professor in the Department of Psychology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, United States, and at the Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland;2. Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand;3. Assistant Professor in the Division of Social Science at the University of the Philippines Visayas, Philippines |
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| Abstract: | This scoping review provides a summary of research findings on social support dynamics in the wake of disasters that occurred on the continent of Australia and Oceania between 1983 and 2013. Forty-one studies, quantitative and qualitative, were summarised, investigating different facets of post-disaster supportive interactions. All inquiries assessed disasters resulting from natural hazards, with the majority of them conducted following events in Australia and New Zealand. The review revealed similar patterns of post-disaster social support dynamics that routinely unfold after disastrous incidents all over the world. Consistent with the disaster mental health literature, the documentation of social support mobilisation and social support deterioration processes was common. Salutary direct effects of supportive behaviours on post-disaster psychological distress were also highly evident. Most studies, however, posed research questions or hypotheses that lacked empirical or theoretical grounding. In conclusion, the review offers several recommendations on how to advance research on post-disaster social support. |
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| Keywords: | Australia disasters distress mental health Oceania social support |
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