Promoting child and family resilience to disasters : effects, interventions, and prevention effectiveness

This paper combines the findings of research aimed at assisting children, youth, and families to more effectively cope with the effects of disasters with a review of the relevant literature. We briefly review the effects of disasters on children, summarizing theory and research on risk and protective factors, interventions following a hazardous event, and promoting children’s resilience. We also look at the role of preventive interventions in assisting children and their families to prepare both physically and psychologically for disasters. Finally, we summarize findings from evaluation of school-level hazards education programs in New Zealand. Based on promising research to date, we highlight factors that may underpin hazard intervention effectiveness.