Journal Article

Communicating with children and adolescents about the risk of natural disasters

Djup, Heidi Wittrup, Dyregrov, Atle, Midtbust, Liv Gunvor Hove

2018

Overview

A vast number of people annually are affected by natural disasters. Children are at risk of losing their lives and suffer mentally or physically after such events. The fostering of resilience and preparedness ahead of disasters can reduce untoward effects of disastrous events. Risk communication and disaster education are considered important aspects of disaster preparedness, but little is known about whether such strategies influence children's behaviour when natural disasters occur or how they cope in the aftermath. This paper presents and discusses various strategies that promote preparedness activities to save lives. To a minor extent, it also includes strategies that can promote coping in the aftermath. Strategies such as informational campaigns, educational activities, psychoeducation and parental guidance are addressed. The literature to date indicates that schools are a suitable arena for risk communication, and that adolescents themselves should be involved and engaged in the communication strategies. However, the relationship between knowledge of preparedness strategies and the resulting preparedness actions is largely unknown. It is unknown whether changes in awareness and attitudes have resulted in actual behaviour change. It is advocated that preparedness activities and parental involvement should supplement information-based strategies.

• Publisher: Taylor & Francis,Taylor & Francis Ltd,Taylor & Francis Group
• Subject: adolescentes / adolescents / Child & adolescent psychiatry / children / Children & youth / Communication / comunicación de riesgos / Coping / desastres naturales / Disasters / Education / Emergency preparedness / Intervention / Mental health / Natural disasters / niños / resilience / Resilience (Psychology) / resiliencia / Review / risk communication / Teenagers / This article presents an overview of relevant literature regarding how to communicate with children and adolescents about natural disasters. Risk communication and disaster education can be offered at schools, through parental guidance, as informational campaigns and by using Internet and social media. More needs to be known about the influence of social factors on children's risk perception and responses. Children can be protagonists for action to reduce disaster risk in their communities. They can inform programmes concerning risk, as well as providing guidance about their needs following a disaster. Suggestions for further investigations are offered, especially to clarify whether the various strategies promote behavioural changes / Trauma / Tsunamis / 儿童 / 自然灾害 / 青少年 / 韧性 / 风险交流