Psychological Impacts of Natural Disasters on Children

Psychological Impacts of Disasters on Children and Adolescents

• Hurricane Katrina led to maternal psychological distress, increased school changes, and internalizing and externalizing symptoms in children.
• Over 37% of children affected by Hurricane Katrina were diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or behavioral disorders post-disaster.
• Children with chronic post-traumatic stress are more likely to have extensive disaster exposure, be female, and display negative coping methods and limited social support.

Economic Impacts of Natural Disasters

• Natural disasters cause quantifiable destruction, including damage to household assets and overall physical destruction.
• The growth of the economy and population has driven the escalation of direct losses attributable to natural disasters over time.
• Immediate financial losses resulting from natural disasters have been on the rise.

Importance of Disaster Preparedness

• Preparing for a disaster is a proactive, continual activity that starts long before it ever happens.
• The main objectives of disaster preparedness center on improving quick responses and recovery, boosting safety precautions, and increasing response systems and community and individual resilience.
• Identification of particular risks, creation of backup plans, and assembling a home survival kit are crucial parts of the process.

Challenges in Disaster Preparedness

• The success of many training programs, particularly when it comes to vulnerable populations, frequently falls short in terms of attaining necessary improvements in behavior and performance.
• Inadequate planning can lead to enormous suffering, as seen in events like the Bam earthquake.

Role of Education in Disaster Preparedness

• Education plays a pivotal role in furnishing individuals with information and translating that knowledge into behaviors.
• A targeted approach in school education can prioritize the cultivation of disaster preparedness literacy among students, instilling knowledge, practical skills, and confidence necessary for effective responses in the event of an emergency or disaster.

Perceived Confidence in Disaster Preparedness

• Only 67.1% of students are confident in their ability to prepare for a disaster, indicating a need for improvement in perceived confidence.
• Prior to the onset of COVID-19, fewer students expressed confidence in their capacity to prepare for disasters.