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Chapter 21 - Mobilisation and Deterioration of Social Support Following Disasters Resulting from Natural and Human-Induced Hazards

from Section 3 - The Role of the Public in Emergencies: Survivors, Bystanders, and Volunteers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2024

By
Krzysztof Kaniasty  and
Beata Urbańska
Edited by
Richard Williams ,
Verity Kemp ,
Keith Porter ,
Tim Healing  and
John Drury
Richard Williams
Affiliation:
University of South Wales
Verity Kemp
Affiliation:
Independent Health Emergency Planning Consultant
Keith Porter
Affiliation:
University of Birmingham
Tim Healing
Affiliation:
Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London
John Drury
Affiliation:
University of Sussex
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Summary

The capacity of a collective to triumph over shared adversities is based on maintaining and augmenting social cohesion, mutual support, cooperation, and a sense of belonging to a valued social group and community. Initially many disasters are attended by affected communities mobilising into a heroic and altruistic struggle to fulfil survivors’ immediate needs, and to shield them from an overwhelming sense of loss. However, this heroic stage inevitably ceases, and may not be sufficient to conquer slowly evolving erosion of social relationships. This chapter reviews empirical investigations documenting that, post disaster, the path of instantaneous mobilisation of resources emerges in the domain of received social support. The path of a lingering sense of deterioration of resources occurs in the domain of perceived social support and social embeddedness. Differences in the dynamics of social support between disasters resulting from natural and human-induced hazards are noted.

Keywords

deterioration of interpersonal relationshipsdisastersmobilisation of helpsocial support
Type
Chapter
Information
Major Incidents, Pandemics and Mental Health
The Psychosocial Aspects of Health Emergencies, Incidents, Disasters and Disease Outbreaks
 , pp. 147 - 153
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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