Speakers
Description
Natural disasters often compel communities to evacuate, exposing displaced individuals to challenges that undermine their mental well-being. While increasing studies have shown that post-disaster relocation experiences exacerbate mental health problems, a notable gap remains, most studies focused on relocation difficulties as a whole rather than examining the specific adversities associated with the displacement process itself. This is a critical oversight, as the nuances in post-relocation adversities variably affect relocatees’ mental health. To address this gap, this study developed and validated the Post-Relocation Adversity Scale (PRAS), a psychometric instrument designed to systematically quantify the multifaceted adversities encountered by individuals after forced displacement. Utilizing a multi-stage approach from generating items to rigorous psychometric validation, the EFA results extracted a 3-factor model in sample 1 (n=712; Tropical Storm Washi survivors) and confirmed the same model with a robust CFA fit in sample 2 (n=622; Typhoon Haiyan survivors). The factors are labeled as social resource deficiency, environmental-infrastructure resource deficiency, and financial-income deficiency. Moreover, LCA analysis in sample 2 identified four distinct profiles: low post-disaster relocation adversity, moderate post-disaster relocation adversity, moderate post-disaster relocation adversity with low social resource deficiency, and high post-disaster relocation adversity. Furthermore, the results showed a significantly varied association between the PRAS's three factors and different mental health outcomes. Overall, the results provide evidence for PRAS’s validity, reliability, and utility in assessing post-disaster relocation difficulties. This instrument offers a refined tool for researchers and policymakers to understand and address displacement-related psychological sequelae by developing intervention specific to the domains of adversities.
