Post-Hurricane Sandy Coping Strategies and Resilience Factors
Transcript Of Post-Hurricane Sandy Coping Strategies and Resilience Factors
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Walden University
ScholarWorks
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection
2019
Post-Hurricane Sandy Coping Strategies and Resilience Factors Among People with Disabilities
Miriam Mukasa
Walden University
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Clinical Psychology Commons, and the Disability Studies Commons
This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]
Walden University
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Miriam Vivian Mukasa
has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made.
Review Committee Dr. Susana Verdinelli, Committee Chairperson, Psychology Faculty
Dr. Craig Marker, Committee Member, Psychology Faculty Dr. Michael Plasay, University Reviewer, Psychology Faculty
Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D.
Walden University 2019
Abstract Post-Hurricane Sandy Coping Strategies and Resilience Factors Among People with
Disabilities by
Miriam Vivian Mukasa
MPhil, Walden University, 2019 MSW, SUNY at Albany, 2007 BSWSA, UCU University, 2001
Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Clinical Psychology
Walden University May 2019
Abstract People with disabilities are likely to experience difficulties overcoming the impact of natural disasters. Few scholars have focused on this population’s ability to recover and handle stress following a natural disaster. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe coping strategies and resilience factors that people with physical or mental disabilities used in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Resilience theory was used as the theoretical framework. Through face-to-face interviews, 10 persons with disabilities shared their experiences of coping and resilience. A lens of interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to identify emergent themes related to persons with disabilities’ experiences of overcoming challenges and sustaining wellbeing in the aftermath of this natural disaster. According to study results, religion, recreation, and relaxation techniques were the main coping strategies used, and self-determination and independent skills were resilience factors that helped persons with disabilities remain positive and overcome challenges following the hurricane. Participants reported experiencing emotional reactions and identified the dislocation as the greatest stressor. The findings of this study have the potential to effect positive social change by informing stakeholders such as policy makers, community and state agencies, and related professionals to help them recognize and address the health and psychological needs of persons with disabilities following a hurricane. Knowing which coping strategies and resilience factors persons with disabilities use creates awareness of the positive ways in which persons with disabilities manage the aftermath of this natural disaster.
Post-Hurricane Sandy Coping Strategies and Resilience Factors Among People with Disabilities by
Miriam Vivian Mukasa
MPhil, Walden University, 2019 MSW, SUNY at Albany, 2007 BSWSA, UCU University, 2001
Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Clinical Psychology
Walden University May 2019
Dedication I dedicate this work to my late grandmother Zeulia Musoka, late Joyce Musoke Njakasi, and Uncle Eliot Mutyaba who took care of me throughout my childhood. To my special daughters Elise, Alexandra- Marie, and Eulalia AKA Zeulia Mukasa, and the best friend, father, and husband Elias, Mukasa.
Acknowledgments I would like to first acknowledge my dissertation chair, Susan, Verdinelli PhD, and committee members, Craig, D. Marker PhD, and University Research Reviewer (URR), Michael T. Plasay, for their tremendous support rendered throughout my dissertation process and encouraging feedbacks. I would also like to acknowledge the support of my husband, best friend, and daughters throughout my graduate career. I appreciate each Walden faculty and staff member with whom I have interacted in any way. I am grateful for Prof. Karen, Robertson, Mr. John, Lowen, and Dr. Sandra, Lowen for being my first mentors and trusting my ability to develop into a scholar practitioner. I would like to acknowledge the support of all the expressive people of Rockaway Beach Queens, New York especially dissertation study participants. Sincere thanks go to special family friends Mr.& Mrs. Allan & Leann Almquist and God parents for my daughters for their confidence in my abilities, reinforcement of all my personal efforts, support, and prayers. Also, Similar thanks to all of Walden dissertation Facebook group who shared their challenges and accomplishments with me.
Table of Contents List of Tables.................................................................................................................vii Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ................................................................................1
Background of the Problem........................................................................................2 Statement of the Problem ...........................................................................................5 Research Questions....................................................................................................6 Purpose of the Study ..................................................................................................6 Theoretical Framework …. ........................................................................................6 Nature of the Study....................................................................................................8 Operational Definitions..............................................................................................8 Assumptions ..............................................................................................................9 Scope and Delimitations .........................................................................................10 Limitations ..............................................................................................................10 Significance of the Study .........................................................................................11 Summary .................................................................................................................11 Chapter 2: Literature Review .........................................................................................13 Introduction .............................................................................................................13 Literature Search Strategy........................................................................................14 Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................15
Determination ....................................................................................................16 Endurance and Adaptability ...............................................................................16 Recuperability....................................................................................................17
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Literature review ...........................................................................................................17 Disability ...........................................................................................................17
Estimated Number of People with Disabilities in the United States ................................19 Challenges People with Disabilities Face ...........................................................20 Health Insurance.....................................................................................21 Policy Barriers ......................................................................................23 Social Barriers ........................................................................................23 Obstacles People with Disabilities Face Following Natural Disasters .................24
Resilience of People with Disabilities after a Natural Disaster..................................26 Coping Strategies.....................................................................................................30
Problem-Focused Coping ...................................................................................30 Emotion-Focused Coping...................................................................................31 Coping Strategies of People with Disabilities.................................................................32 Adaptive and Maladaptive Behavioral Coping Strategies ...................................33 Proactive Coping Strategies ...............................................................................36 Active Coping ....................................................................................................38 Instrumental Support Seeking ............................................................................38 Summary and Conclusions.......................................................................................39 Chapter 3: Research Method..........................................................................................40 Introduction ............................................................................................................40 Research Design and Rationale ................................................................................40 Role of the Researcher ............................................................................................43
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Management of Bias ..........................................................................................44 Methodology ...........................................................................................................45
Participant Selection Logic.................................................................................45 How Participants will be Identified, Contacted, and Recruited ...........................46 Instrumentation ........................................................................................................ 49 Demographic Questions .....................................................................................49 Semi-Structured Interview .................................................................................49 Data Analysis Plan...................................................................................................50 Issues of Trustworthiness .........................................................................................52 Credibility..........................................................................................................52 Dependability and Confirmability ......................................................................54 Transferability....................................................................................................55 Ethical Procedures ...................................................................................................55 Potential Risks and Benefits ...............................................................................56 Data Integrity and Confidentiality ......................................................................56 Potential Conflicts of Interest .............................................................................57 Beneficence .......................................................................................................57 Informed Consent...............................................................................................57 Protection of Participants' Rights........................................................................57 Summary .................................................................................................................59 Chapter 4: Results..........................................................................................................60 Introduction .............................................................................................................60
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Walden University
ScholarWorks
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection
2019
Post-Hurricane Sandy Coping Strategies and Resilience Factors Among People with Disabilities
Miriam Mukasa
Walden University
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Clinical Psychology Commons, and the Disability Studies Commons
This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]
Walden University
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Miriam Vivian Mukasa
has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made.
Review Committee Dr. Susana Verdinelli, Committee Chairperson, Psychology Faculty
Dr. Craig Marker, Committee Member, Psychology Faculty Dr. Michael Plasay, University Reviewer, Psychology Faculty
Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D.
Walden University 2019
Abstract Post-Hurricane Sandy Coping Strategies and Resilience Factors Among People with
Disabilities by
Miriam Vivian Mukasa
MPhil, Walden University, 2019 MSW, SUNY at Albany, 2007 BSWSA, UCU University, 2001
Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Clinical Psychology
Walden University May 2019
Abstract People with disabilities are likely to experience difficulties overcoming the impact of natural disasters. Few scholars have focused on this population’s ability to recover and handle stress following a natural disaster. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe coping strategies and resilience factors that people with physical or mental disabilities used in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Resilience theory was used as the theoretical framework. Through face-to-face interviews, 10 persons with disabilities shared their experiences of coping and resilience. A lens of interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to identify emergent themes related to persons with disabilities’ experiences of overcoming challenges and sustaining wellbeing in the aftermath of this natural disaster. According to study results, religion, recreation, and relaxation techniques were the main coping strategies used, and self-determination and independent skills were resilience factors that helped persons with disabilities remain positive and overcome challenges following the hurricane. Participants reported experiencing emotional reactions and identified the dislocation as the greatest stressor. The findings of this study have the potential to effect positive social change by informing stakeholders such as policy makers, community and state agencies, and related professionals to help them recognize and address the health and psychological needs of persons with disabilities following a hurricane. Knowing which coping strategies and resilience factors persons with disabilities use creates awareness of the positive ways in which persons with disabilities manage the aftermath of this natural disaster.
Post-Hurricane Sandy Coping Strategies and Resilience Factors Among People with Disabilities by
Miriam Vivian Mukasa
MPhil, Walden University, 2019 MSW, SUNY at Albany, 2007 BSWSA, UCU University, 2001
Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Clinical Psychology
Walden University May 2019
Dedication I dedicate this work to my late grandmother Zeulia Musoka, late Joyce Musoke Njakasi, and Uncle Eliot Mutyaba who took care of me throughout my childhood. To my special daughters Elise, Alexandra- Marie, and Eulalia AKA Zeulia Mukasa, and the best friend, father, and husband Elias, Mukasa.
Acknowledgments I would like to first acknowledge my dissertation chair, Susan, Verdinelli PhD, and committee members, Craig, D. Marker PhD, and University Research Reviewer (URR), Michael T. Plasay, for their tremendous support rendered throughout my dissertation process and encouraging feedbacks. I would also like to acknowledge the support of my husband, best friend, and daughters throughout my graduate career. I appreciate each Walden faculty and staff member with whom I have interacted in any way. I am grateful for Prof. Karen, Robertson, Mr. John, Lowen, and Dr. Sandra, Lowen for being my first mentors and trusting my ability to develop into a scholar practitioner. I would like to acknowledge the support of all the expressive people of Rockaway Beach Queens, New York especially dissertation study participants. Sincere thanks go to special family friends Mr.& Mrs. Allan & Leann Almquist and God parents for my daughters for their confidence in my abilities, reinforcement of all my personal efforts, support, and prayers. Also, Similar thanks to all of Walden dissertation Facebook group who shared their challenges and accomplishments with me.
Table of Contents List of Tables.................................................................................................................vii Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ................................................................................1
Background of the Problem........................................................................................2 Statement of the Problem ...........................................................................................5 Research Questions....................................................................................................6 Purpose of the Study ..................................................................................................6 Theoretical Framework …. ........................................................................................6 Nature of the Study....................................................................................................8 Operational Definitions..............................................................................................8 Assumptions ..............................................................................................................9 Scope and Delimitations .........................................................................................10 Limitations ..............................................................................................................10 Significance of the Study .........................................................................................11 Summary .................................................................................................................11 Chapter 2: Literature Review .........................................................................................13 Introduction .............................................................................................................13 Literature Search Strategy........................................................................................14 Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................15
Determination ....................................................................................................16 Endurance and Adaptability ...............................................................................16 Recuperability....................................................................................................17
i
Literature review ...........................................................................................................17 Disability ...........................................................................................................17
Estimated Number of People with Disabilities in the United States ................................19 Challenges People with Disabilities Face ...........................................................20 Health Insurance.....................................................................................21 Policy Barriers ......................................................................................23 Social Barriers ........................................................................................23 Obstacles People with Disabilities Face Following Natural Disasters .................24
Resilience of People with Disabilities after a Natural Disaster..................................26 Coping Strategies.....................................................................................................30
Problem-Focused Coping ...................................................................................30 Emotion-Focused Coping...................................................................................31 Coping Strategies of People with Disabilities.................................................................32 Adaptive and Maladaptive Behavioral Coping Strategies ...................................33 Proactive Coping Strategies ...............................................................................36 Active Coping ....................................................................................................38 Instrumental Support Seeking ............................................................................38 Summary and Conclusions.......................................................................................39 Chapter 3: Research Method..........................................................................................40 Introduction ............................................................................................................40 Research Design and Rationale ................................................................................40 Role of the Researcher ............................................................................................43
ii
Management of Bias ..........................................................................................44 Methodology ...........................................................................................................45
Participant Selection Logic.................................................................................45 How Participants will be Identified, Contacted, and Recruited ...........................46 Instrumentation ........................................................................................................ 49 Demographic Questions .....................................................................................49 Semi-Structured Interview .................................................................................49 Data Analysis Plan...................................................................................................50 Issues of Trustworthiness .........................................................................................52 Credibility..........................................................................................................52 Dependability and Confirmability ......................................................................54 Transferability....................................................................................................55 Ethical Procedures ...................................................................................................55 Potential Risks and Benefits ...............................................................................56 Data Integrity and Confidentiality ......................................................................56 Potential Conflicts of Interest .............................................................................57 Beneficence .......................................................................................................57 Informed Consent...............................................................................................57 Protection of Participants' Rights........................................................................57 Summary .................................................................................................................59 Chapter 4: Results..........................................................................................................60 Introduction .............................................................................................................60
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