After disaster: conceptualising the extent and length of the psychological impact

Background: Psychosocial responses to disasters have been widely explored in psychological and psychiatric literature. However, some issues have not yet been clarified with regards to conceptualizing disasters and addressing the long-term effects of disasters through a perspective focused on developmental and positive psychology principles. Objective: The aim of this study is to explore existing research regarding psychological dimensions of exposure to disaster. Method: A literature review was conducted focusing on disaster conceptualisations and long-term adaptive functioning of those who have and have not been identified as individuals at risk for adverse outcomes. Focusing on conceptions of disaster and trauma, the extent of the impact in different populations was also considered, along with existing knowledge regarding reactions to disaster and possible factors involved. Results: There have been significant efforts in designing immediate and short-term relief and assistance in disasters, addressing the most common effects of exposure to trauma. Developmental considerations have outlined differential psychological outcomes through the lifespan. An important body of research has focused on resilience in relation to trauma, nevertheless, studies regarding long-term consequences and adaptive functioning are still scarce. Efforts seem to focus more on preventing relatively immediate severe symptoms of psychopathology rather than on promoting long-term psychological adjustment. Conclusions: Research aimed at understanding the long-term psychological effects of exposure to disasters, looking at individuals who showed and did not show psychopathology following that incident seems a sensible topic to be developed. Aiming to understand how individuals in different life stages deal with adversity and to design interventions able to support individuals in dealing with the less visible long-term effects of trauma is equally important. In addition to focusing on the absence of psychopathology, researchers should have in mind the promotion of positive development throughout the life-span. Researchers should develop measures that assess exposure to disaster/trauma, taking into consideration not only the types of events, dates, durations but also the type of exposure and involved stressors, attempting to capture disaster exposure in its complexity. At the same time, research should acknowledge the importance of the meaning that individuals attribute to an event and its consequences, more than the event itself, and consider perceived individual, family and community resources in relation to it.