Research Problem

Disasters occur once a day on average in the world. As

traumatic events, they are potentially strong stressors due to
their disruptive nature, high extent of impact, undesirable and
uncontrollable occurrences, and prolonged alterations in the
social and material environment. They are potential pathways to
the development of phobias and other anxiety-based disorders in
youth.
This research aims to establish the relation between various
demographic factors, exposure to disasters and perception; to the
type of disorder (internalizing, externalizing and or any other type
of disorder) it causes to children.

Objective of research

To examine the persistence of post-disaster disorders in youth (4–

17 years old), at approximately 18 and 30 months post disaster. It
intends to identify the presence of internalizing, externalizing and
or any other disorder in the youth post disaster at two different
time intervals. The moderating effects of preexisting
characteristics of the child (i.e., sex, age) and the family (poverty
level) in the youth’s disaster response will also be explored.

Type of research
This is a descriptive research because the disaster (hurricane) in
this case has already occurred and hence the variables have
already occurred. The advantage of this is that as this research
attempts to study the psychological impact of disasters this will
give the correct and true result.

Hypothesis

• Children’s disaster-related distress manifests as internalizing

disorders, rather than as externalizing disorders at 18
months post-disaster.
This is a descriptive hypothesis.

OR
 • Youth’s disaster response is closely affected by preexisting
characteristics of the child, the family ‘s poverty level and
exposure to disaster.
This is a causal hypothesis.

Variables

• Independent/ Predictor Variable

Gender, age, poverty status, perception of poverty, how much

the children perceive the lives of themselves and the lives of their
loved ones to be in threat, loss due to disaster, prior psychosocial
or learning problems and the extent and intensity of exposure

• Dependent/Criterion Variable

Psychiatric Disorders due to disasters

Research design:

• Sample selection: Children aged 4 to 17 years were

selected from an island wide probability household sample.
These units were classified according to economic level and
size, grouped into block clusters and further classified as
urban or rural.

• Measures: A multi-stage method for cross-cultural

adaptation and translation of study measures derived from
the medical, sociological and psychological literature has
been used.

Methodology adopted:

• Hurricane Exposure Questionnaire: Questionnaire

assessed the exposure of the child and care taker to the
disaster. Exposure included : life threat/loss, loss of material
objects and child’s disruption of everyday life (separation
 from family due to the hurricane; staying overnight out of
home; still living out of home at time of interview).

• Parents provided information for all participants, and

children age 11 years and older were also interviewed.

• A dichotomous measure was also created that divided the

sample into those who had no exposure experience and
those with at least one exposure experience of either child
or family exposure.