Psychological Well-Being and The Sense of Community Among Displaced (Women) Natural Disaster Survivors

Dicky Pelupessy; S. S. Budi Hartono; Yurik Yang

doi:10.17977/um023v9i12020p46-56

Psychological Well-Being and The Sense of Community Among Displaced (Women) Natural Disaster Survivors

Dicky Pelupessy, S. S. Budi Hartono, Yurik Yang

Abstract

The present study investigates the psychological well-being and sense of community of women who were displaced by natural disasters. The study explored the interrelationship between the sense of community (SOC), psychological well-being (PWB), relocation status, and socio-demographic variables. One hundred and ninety women participated in the study (N = 190). Participants completed several self-report measurements (e.g., SCI, PWBS) and were categorized into two groups: those who still dwelled in temporary shelters (n = 96) and those who had permanently relocated (n = 94). There were no significant differences in overall SOC and PWB between the two groups; however, there was a significant difference in personal growth dimension —one out of six PWB dimensions— between those who had permanently relocated and those who still stayed in temporary shelters. The two groups also significantly differed on three SOC dimensions: influence, integration, and fulfillment of needs, and shared emotional connection. Three significant predictors for PWB were found: SOC, marital status, and educational attainment. Overall, SOC was a stronger predictor of PWB than displacement status, or any other socio-demographic variables.

Keywords disaster; psychological well-being; internally displaced person; the sense of community; relocation; Indonesia

Full Text:

PDF (Bahasa Indonesia)

References

Akinyemi, O. O., Owoaje, E. T., & Cadmus, E. O. (2016). In their own words: Mental health and quality of life of west african refugees in Nigeria. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 17(1), 273–287. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-014-0409-6

Bennett, K. M. (2005). Psychological wellbeing in later life: The longitudinal effects of marriage, widowhood and marital status change. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20(3), 280–284. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.1280

Bonnano, G. A, Brewin, C. R., Kaniasty, K., & Greca, A. M. (2010). Weighing the cost of disaster: Consequences, risk, and resilience in individuals, families, and communities. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 11(1), 1-49

Chavis, D. M., Hogge, J. H., McMillan, D. W., & Wandersman, A. (1986). Sense of community through Brunswik’s lens: A first look. Journal of Community Psychology, 14(1), 24–40. https://doi.org/10.1002/1520-6629(198601)14:1<24::AID-JCOP2290140104>3.0.CO;2-P

Chu, P. S., Saucier, D. A., & Hafner, E. (2010). Meta-analysis of the relationships between social support and well-being in children and adolescents. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 29(6), 624–645. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2010.29.6.624

Davidson, W. B., & Cotter, P. R. (1991). The relationship between sense of community and subjective well-being: A first look. Journal of Community Psychology, 19(3), 246–253. https://doi.org/10.1002/1520-6629(199107)19:3<246::AID-JCOP2290190308>3.0.CO;2-L

Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95(3), 542–575. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.95.3.542

Eggleston, E., Wong, E. L., Hardee, K., Irwanto, Poerwandari, E. K., & Severy, L. J. (2001). Measuring women’s psychological well-being in Indonesia. Women & Health, 32(4), 17–32. https://doi.org/10.1300/J013v32n04_02

Faul, F., Erdfelder, E., Buchner, A., & Lang, A.-G. (2009). Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1: Tests for correlation and regression analyses. Behavior Research Methods, 41(4), 1149–1160. https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.41.4.1149

Haldane, J., & Nickerson, A. (2016). The Impact of interpersonal and noninterpersonal trauma on psychological symptoms in refugees: The moderating role of gender and trauma type. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 29(5), 457–465. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22132

Horn, R. (2009). A study of the emotional and psychological well‐being of refugees in Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya. International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, 5(4), 20–32. https://doi.org/10.5042/ijmhsc.2010.0229

Hussain, A., Weisaeth, L., & Heir, T. (2011). Psychiatric disorders and functional impairment among disaster victims after exposure to a natural disaster: A population based study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 128(1), 135–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2010.06.018

Johnstone, M., Parsell, C., Jetten, J., Dingle, G., & Walter, Z. (2016). Breaking the cycle of homelessness: Housing stability and social support as predictors of long-term well-being. Housing Studies, 31(4), 410–426. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2015.1092504

Kaniasty, K., & Norris, F. H. (2004). Social support in the aftermath of disasters, catastrophes, and acts of terrorism: Altruistic, overwhelmed, uncertain, antagonistic, and patriotic communities. In R. J. Ursano, A. E. Norwood, & C. S. Fullerton (Eds.), Bioterrorism: Psychological and public health interventions (pp. 200-229). New York: Cambridge University Press

McMillan, D. W., & Chavis, D. M. (1986). Sense of community: A definition and theory. Journal of Community Psychology, 14, 6–23.

Norris, F. H., Stevens, S. P., Pfefferbaum, B., Wyche, K. F., & Pfefferbaum, R. L. (2008). Commu-nity resilience as a metaphor, theory, set of capacities, and strategy for disaster readiness. American Journal of Community Psychology, 41, 127–150.

Plys, E., & Qualls, S. H. (2019). Sense of community and its relationship with psychological well-being in assisted living. Aging & Mental Health, 0(0), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1647133

Posselt, M., Eaton, H., Ferguson, M., Keegan, D., & Procter, N. (2019). Enablers of psychological well-being for refugees and asylum seekers living in transitional countries: A systematic review. Health & Social Care in the Community, 27(4), 808–823. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12680

Prati, G., & Pietrantoni, L. (2009). Optimism, social support, and coping strategies as factors contributing to posttraumatic growth: A meta-analysis. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 14(5), 364–388. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325020902724271

Rehdanz, K., Welsch, H., Narita, D., & Okubo, T. (2015). Well-being effects of a major natural disaster: The case of Fukushima. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 116, 500–517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2015.05.014

Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2001). On happiness and human potentials: A review of research on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Annual Review of Psychology, 52(1), 141–166. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.141

Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069–1081.

Ryff, C. D. (2018). Well-being with soul: Science in pursuit of human potential. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 13(2), 242–248. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691617699836

Tukey, J. W. (1980). We need both exploratory and confirmatory. The American Statistician, 34(1), 23–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/00031305.1980.10482706

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17977/um023v9i12020p46-56