Psychological Effects of Natural Disasters Research Paper by Nicky

Psychological Effects of Natural Disasters
An exploration of the psychological impact of natural disasters.
# 145125 | 3,323 words | 15 sources | APA | 2010 | US
Published on Oct 26, 2010 in Psychology (Child and Adolescent) , Psychology (Disorders)


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Description:

The paper examines the literature that reveals that reactions to natural disasters are, in general, severe, and in some cases even life-threatening. The paper identifies common reactions and examines the manner in which children in particular react to disasters. The paper notes that people who are already suffering from a preexisting mental disorder may experience some exacerbation of these conditions as well as developing the other symptoms typically associated with such experiences. Finally, the paper points out how the research was consistent in emphasizing the need for further studies concerning how people react to natural disasters.

Outline:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"In fact, PTSD appears to be a more common reaction to natural disasters than previously believed, due in large part to the changing definitions and diagnostic criteria that have been applied to the disorder in recent decades. For example, researchers studied the impact of a natural disaster that occurred in 1972 in Buffalo Creek, West Virginia, when a dam collapsed and flooded the entire community with significant loss of life and property. Not surprisingly, almost everyone in the community suffered psychological consequences, with fully 90 percent of the survivors being symptomatic 2 years following the disaster and more than 33 percent continuing to suffer from disabling psychiatric symptoms even 5 years later (Myers and Wee)."

Sample of Sources Used:

  • Baum, Andrew, Tracey A. Revenson and Jerome E. Singer. Handbook of Health Psychology. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2001.
  • Breton, J. J., Valla, J. P. and J. Lambert. (1993). "Industrial disaster and mental health of children and their parents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 32: 438-445 in Richman and Fraser at 134.
  • Browne, Ivor. (1990). "Psychological Trauma, or Unexperienced Experience." Re-vision 12(4): 25.
  • Clancy, Kris. (2004, March). "Reducing Trauma's Toll: Managers in Fields Such as Security Must Be Aware of Trauma-Related Stress and Find Ways to Assist Employees in Dealing with It." Security Management 48(3): 30-31.
  • Myers, Diane and David F. Wee. Disaster Mental Health Services: A Primer for Practitioners. New York: Brunner-Routledge, 2005.

Cite this Research Paper:

APA Format

Psychological Effects of Natural Disasters (2010, October 26) Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/research-paper/psychological-effects-of-natural-disasters-145125/

MLA Format

"Psychological Effects of Natural Disasters" 26 October 2010. Web. 22 March. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/research-paper/psychological-effects-of-natural-disasters-145125/>

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