Robert C. Bolin
Abstract
The purpose of the dissertation was to investigate how characteristics of the disaster agent, background characteristics of families and conmunity recovery programs and kinship structures affected long-term family recovery from a disaster.
A causal model was developed both on the basis of preexisting disaster and family literature and on data gathered following a flash flood in Rapid City, South Dakota. The study was longitudinal in design, in order to assess the developmental process of family recovery. The primary objective of the study was to determine what effect various social and economic factors had on long-term family recovery. Path analytic techniques were used in the analysis.
Several conclusions were arrived at from the research. Socio-economic status of the victim families was positively associated with their recovery, both in housing and in emotional recovery. Stage in the family life cycle was found to negatively affect both housing and emotional recovery. The degree of embeddedness in kinship structures was found to have positive effects on emotional recovery.
Ph.D. in Sociology
University of Colorado Boulder
1976
Committee Members
J. Eugene Haas
Blaine E. Mercer
E. Merle Adams
Russell K. Endo