Coping strategies for children and adolescents after disasters caused by natural hazards
Citation: Raccanello D, Rocca E, Barnaba V, et al. Coping strategies and psychological maladjustment/adjustment: a meta-analytic approach with children and adolescents exposed to natural disasters. Child & Youth Care Forum. 2023;52:25–63.
Language: Abstract and full text available in EN.
Free to view: Yes
Funding sources: Fondazione Cariverona, Bando Ricerca Scientifica 2017 (Italy).
What is this? In this meta-analysis, the authors searched for peer-reviewed articles that studied the relationship of at least one coping strategy and one maladjustment/adjustment indicator in people 18 years of age or younger. They restricted their searches to articles published in English and those with data collected 2 to 54 months after exposure to disaster. They included 26 peer-reviewed articles.
What was found: The authors found that adjustment was associated with coping strategies such as problem solving, social support, and submission; whereas maladjustment was associated with escape, social isolation, submission, and opposition. Moderators such as age, type of disaster, and geography influenced the effectiveness of coping strategies.
Implications: The authors stated that by identifying coping strategies, more effective programmes can be implemented to support children and adolescents after disasters caused by natural hazards.
Other considerations: The authors of the review discussed their findings in the context of age, and place of residence.
This summary was prepared by Grace Meng, checked by Briann Mensour, and finalized by William Summerskill.