How did older adults respond to challenges after an earthquake? Results from a qualitative study in Iran

• Published in: Archives of gerontology and geriatrics Vol. 77; pp. 189 - 195
• Main Authors: Ahmadi, Shokoufeh, Khankeh, Hamidreza, Sahaf, Robab, Dalvandi, Asghar, Hosseini, Seyed Ali, Alipour, Fardin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-07-2018
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Disasters; Earthquake; Earthquakes; Female; Humans; Iran; Male; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Middle Aged; Older adults; Qualitative analysis; Qualitative Research; Response; Survivors - psychology; Survivors - statistics & numerical data; Iran; Response; Qualitative analysis; Disasters; Earthquake; Older adults
• ISSN: 0167-4943; 1872-6976; 1872-6976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2018.05.008

•Our understanding of how older adults, manage and respond to challenges after disasters, remains limited.•Older adults’ responses were categorized in two main categories of adaptive and maladaptive responses.•Older adults can make a substantial contribution in recovery programs after disasters.•Service providers need to identify the patterns of vulnerabilities in older adults responses to disasters.
In many areas, natural disasters are a major challenge for life and property of people. Earthquake is one of the most devastating natural disasters. This study aimed to explore how older adults responded to challenges after the earthquake in Iran.
This study was based on qualitative analysis. Data were collected through in-depth and semi-structured interviews. 29 participants including 18 older adult survivors of the earthquake-stricken areas, four lay caregivers, and three health professionals in disasters, one social worker, two relief worker and one disaster psychologist were interviewed. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. The transcribed texts were analyzed using inductive qualitative content analysis recommended by Graneheim and Lundman (2004).
The study explored two main categories regarding older adults’ responses to challenges after the earthquake: adaptive and maladaptive responses. Adaptive response has been developed by four factors including; religious coping, sharing feelings and information, coping with new activities, roles and place. Also, maladaptive response was included; the lack of motivation to search for relief supplies, undue dependency, and decrease of social activities.
Service providers are recommended to identify the patterns of vulnerability and cultural sensitivities in older adults’ responses to manage the negative consequences of disasters on older adults. Furthermore, older adults can make a substantial contribution in recovery programs based on the adaptive responses, such as helping in the rescue efforts and psychological support from family and community after disasters.