Contents & Abstracts Volume 2008-1

The Australasian Journal of Disaster
and Trauma Studies
ISSN:  1174-4707
Volume : 2008-1

Editorial : Psychosocial Support in Community and Educational Contexts
by Douglas Paton

Paper

Sense of Place: A Model for Community Based Psychosocial Support Programs
by Joseph O. Prewitt Diaz & Anjana Dayal

Keywords: Sense of place, psychosocial well-being, support

The most catastrophic impact of natural disasters is an individual feeling of ‘loss of place’. Re-establishing ‘sense of place’ refers to psychosocial support activities which help people survive enormous personal losses following disasters. This paper discusses psychosocial support as a core component of the recovery and reconstruction efforts, by identifying ‘place’ as a physical parameter in which human competence is achieved and the techniques used to offset the trauma of displacement following disasters. Psychosocial support identifies survivors as the main actors in the reestablishment of ‘sense of place’ and as an internally-focused process in which the survivors prioritize their activities to plan, establish, and coordinate responses to protect and improve their own psychosocial well-being, instead of relying on outside help.

The Effects of Personality, Social Support and Religiosity on Posttraumatic Growth
by Julie T. Wilson & Joseph M. Boden

Keywords: personality, Big Five, posttraumatic growth, social support, religiosity, extraversion

The aim of the present research was to explore the ways in which personality traits, social support, and religiosity contribute to posttraumatic growth (PTG). Associations between the Big Five personality dimensions and PTG, mediated via measures of religiosity and social support were identified in the current sample (n = 104). The results revealed that extraversion predicted PTG scores, while openness to experience and agreeableness predicted PTG via religiosity. While conscientiousness predicted greater satisfaction with social support, this did not predict PTG. The results of the study suggest that the relationships between these variables and the role of social support may be more complex than previously thought.

Short Communication

The 2004 Tsunami and University Students’ Academic Achievement
by Teuku Tahlil & Ches Jones

Keywords: Tsunami, Adverse effects, College student, Academic achievement

This study was intended to assess a correlation between tsunami experiences and academic achievement among college university students. Data were collected by a self-report questionnaire from two nursing schools in one of the most affected areas by the 2004 tsunami. Results indicated that the students’ mean GPA and absence from school were not statistically correlated with their tsunami experiences (p >.05). Although the difference between the mean GPAs were not statistically significant, the mean GPAs before the tsunami were higher than after the tsunami. Therefore, future research about this tendency should be considered.