Joplin tornado survivors, hospital employees and community members: Reflections of resilience and acknowledgment of pain

Abstract

Aim: Little is known about the relationship between age and levels of resilience following a major disaster. The aim of this pilot study was to determine self-rated levels of resilience of young, middle-aged and older adult survivors of the 2011 Joplin tornado 3 years’ post-disaster.

Methods: A mixed-methods design of a 25-item survey and focus groups was used to study three distinct adult age groups (young, 18–39 years; middle-aged, 40–64 years; and older, 65 or more years). A total of 182 individuals completed the survey, and 20 participated in one of three age-specific focus groups.

Results: Overall, 162 of the 182 tornado survivors reported normal-to-high resiliency 3 years after the event. However, 20 of the 182 participants had a total mean score of 62 or below, which is consistent with generalized anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. No statistical difference was found in resilience according to the three age groups.

Conclusion: Although the majority of participants reported normal-to-high resiliency, a small but troubling proportion of survivors reported difficulty in adjusting to the effects of the disaster 3 years after the event. Age did not appear to be a significant factor in resiliency of the participants.