The Impact of Relocation Patterns on Psychological Stress
Journal
Psychological Science
Series/Report No.
Psychological Science
Journal Volume
35
Journal Issue
6
Start Page
597
End Page
612
ISSN
0956-7976
1467-9280
Date Issued
2024-06-01
Author(s)
DOI
10.1177/09567976241239915
Abstract
This study investigated how relocation patterns affect disaster survivors’ psychological stress on the diverse durations and spaces of relocation. It analyzed a 10-year data set of 1,236 families affected by 2009’s Typhoon Morakot in Taiwan, identifying six relocation patterns through dynamic time warping (DTW). A hierarchical linear model was utilized, revealing the discernible impacts of environmental factors, sociocultural factors, and family-level socioeconomic factors on psychological stress. The study revealed that survivors who quickly found stable residences after the disaster initially experienced lower stress levels, but in the long term, their stress increased. Conversely, those with unstable residences experienced higher initial stress but lower long-term stress. Comparing similar patterns, we found that survivors who had more time for preparation and who sought opportunities, coped, or adapted to secondary stressors before long-distance relocation faced lower stress levels. These findings suggest that relocation patterns have a greater impact on the psychosocial stress of disaster survivors than time or relocation distance.
Subjects
nature-induced disaster
psychological stress
relocation pattern
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Type
journal article