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Lausund H, Jøranson N, Breievne G, Myrstad M, Heiberg KE, Walle-Hansen MM, Heggestad AKT. Older people's experiences of vulnerability in a trust-based welfare society affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nurs Inq 2024; 31:e12643. [PMID: 38685697 DOI: 10.1111/nin.12643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The early coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak inflicted vulnerability on individuals and societies on a completely different scale than we have seen previously. The pandemic developed rapidly from 1 day to the next, and both society and individuals were put to the test. Older people's experiences of the early outbreak were no exception. Using an abductive analytical approach, the study explores the individual experiences of vulnerability as described by older people hospitalised with COVID-19 in the early outbreak. In these older people, we found that the societal context and the individual experiences of vulnerability were inextricable linked. The study demonstrates that despite significant individual stress, informants displayed an interesting ability to also view their situation to reorient their perspective. The experience of vulnerability is both conditional and individual, which imposes a degree of unpredictability that neither they nor others were able to negotiate. The article discusses the phenomenon of unpredictability in light of a modern society with regard to how individuals and society may encounter unexpected events in the future where the potential to reorient will be vital.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilde Lausund
- Faculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nina Jøranson
- Faculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, Oslo, Norway
| | - Grete Breievne
- Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway, Drammen, Norway
| | - Marius Myrstad
- Department of Medical Research, Bærum Hospital Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Drammen, Norway
| | - Kristi Elisabeth Heiberg
- Department of Rehabilitation Science and Health Technology, OsloMet-Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
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Olson A, Naevestad TO, Orru K, Nero K, Schieffelers A, Frislid Meyer S. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on socially marginalised women: Material and mental health outcomes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION : IJDRR 2023; 93:103739. [PMID: 37234353 PMCID: PMC10162841 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
There is little knowledge about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people who are socially marginalised, including individuals who face barriers when attempting to access services such as social safety nets, the labour market, or housing. There is even less understanding about women living under these circumstances. The aims of this study are therefore to examine the material and mental impacts of COVID-19 among socially marginalised women (compared with socially marginalised men) as well as influencing factors. The study is based on survey data (N = 304) involving people who are clients of social care organisations in thirteen European countries. The sample includes clients: a) living in their homes, b) in facilities, and c) on the street and in temporary accommodations. Results indicate that although material impacts were not significantly different for female and male respondents, socially marginalised women have experienced more severe mental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic than socially marginalised men. Female respondents have been significantly more worried about COVID-19 infection than men, and they report significantly more PTSD-symptoms related to the pandemic. Quantitative results indicate that these differences are related to the fact that the female respondents worry more about health risks (e.g. falling ill). Female respondents also seem to be harder hit mentally by the material impacts of COVID-19. Among the free text survey answers regarding the biggest problem for the respondents after the outbreak of the pandemic, the most prevalent reply (among both men and women) was related to material impacts of the pandemic (39% of the respondents), particularly the loss of work (65%). While women reported deterioration of social relations more often, men mentioned lacking access to services more frequently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Olson
- The Salvation Army, Place Du Nouveau Marché Aux Grains 34, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tor-Olav Naevestad
- Institute of Transport Economics, Norwegian Centre for Transport Research, Gaustadalléen 21, NO-0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kati Orru
- Institute of Social Studies, University of Tartu, Lossi 36, 51003, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kristi Nero
- Institute of Social Studies, University of Tartu, Lossi 36, 51003, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Abriel Schieffelers
- The Salvation Army, Place Du Nouveau Marché Aux Grains 34, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sunniva Frislid Meyer
- Institute of Transport Economics, Norwegian Centre for Transport Research, Gaustadalléen 21, NO-0349, Oslo, Norway
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Siimsen I, Orru K, Naevestad TO, Nero K, Olson A, Kaal E, Meyer SF. Socio-economic outcomes of COVID-19 on the marginalised: Who have taken the hardest hit? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION : IJDRR 2023; 93:103723. [PMID: 37200561 PMCID: PMC10155468 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
This article aims to examine the socioeconomic outcomes of COVID-19 for socially marginalised people who are clients of social care organisations (e.g. people experiencing homelessness), and the factors influencing these outcomes. We tested the role of individual and socio-structural variables in determining socioeconomic outcomes based on a cross-sectional survey with 273 participants from eight European countries and 32 interviews and five workshops with managers and staff of social care organisations in ten European countries. 39% of the respondents agreed that the pandemic has had a negative effect on their income and access to shelter and food. The most common negative socio-economic outcome of the pandemic was loss of work (65% of respondents). According to multivariate regression analysis, variables such as being of a young age, being an immigrant/asylum seeker or residing in the country without documentation, living in your own home, and having (in)formal paid work as the main source of income are related to negative socio-economic outcomes following the COVID-19 pandemic. Factors such as individual psychological resilience and receiving social benefits as the main source of income tend to "protect" respondents from negative impacts. Qualitative results indicate that care organisations have been an important source of economic and psycho-social support, particularly significant in times of a huge surge in demand for services during the long-term crises of pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Alexandra Olson
- The Salvation Army European Affairs Office, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Esta Kaal
- Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
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Fekete A, Rufat S. Should everyone in need be treated equally? A European survey of expert judgment on social vulnerability to floods and pandemics to validate multi-hazard vulnerability factors. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION : IJDRR 2023; 85:103527. [PMID: 36628156 PMCID: PMC9817349 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Several European countries were affected by severe floods in 2021. At the same time, despite the deployment of vaccines, Europe was the COVID-19 pandemic's epicenter several times during 2021. One research aim of this study is to identify socio-demographic groups vulnerable to floods and whether the groups vulnerable to floods and pandemics overlap or are disjoint. We ran a survey in four languages (English, French, German, and Spanish) and collected the judgment of 366 experts in disaster risk management and first-responders to find out how those people caring for "people in need" (be it operational or administratively) think about which persons are more at risk than others. Another research aim is to validate multi-hazard vulnerability factors by comparing judgment on groups vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic and to floods. The main findings are that experts think that socially vulnerable groups should be rescued or treated first. Treating everyone equally is less favored by comparison. Infrastructure losses, followed by economic losses, reveal better than deaths or psychological issues whether vulnerability played a role in a disaster. Regarding vulnerability characteristics, older, homeless people, and immigrants rank highest, and most factors can be used to explain both flood and COVID-19 vulnerability, while some differ; for example, mobility impairment is less important for COVID-19. There are major discrepancies between what respondents think should be done to prioritize help to certain groups and what they have experienced is being done on the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Fekete
- Institute of Rescue Engineering and Civil Protection, TH Köln - University of Applied Sciences, Betzdorferstr. 2, 50679, Cologne, Germany
| | - Samuel Rufat
- CY Cergy Paris University, Department of Geography33 bd du Port, 95011, Cergy-Pontoise, France
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Tora TT, Degaga DT, Utallo AU. Vulnerability management practices for sustainable livelihood security in drought-prone Gamo lowlands: An empirical insight from southwest Ethiopia. Heliyon 2022; 8:e12055. [PMID: 36506405 PMCID: PMC9732308 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vulnerable people do not always absorb the occurring shocks instead they react to disasters employing multiple strategies. This study mainly aims to explore households' vulnerability management practices and their linkages with sustainable livelihood security in the drought-prone Gamo lowland setup. Through the multistage sampling technique, a total of 285 respondents were selected from the four sample kebeles. Primary data were collected using a survey questionnaire, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations. Secondary data were drawn from published and unpublished materials. A mix of the qualitative dominant mixed methods of data analysis was employed. The newly formulated Vulnerability Management for Survival (VMS) framework is used to schematize people's survival strategies and challenges. It was found that the Gamo lowland households pursue multiple vulnerability management practices like liquidation, adopting drought-resistant crops, livelihood diversification, destocking, engagements in off-farm activities, remittance, and reciprocity. These practices are linked with households' livelihood security wherein effective management of vulnerabilities yields secured and sustained livelihoods among the implications. To sustainably enhance rural invulnerability, strengthening people's survival strategies like reciprocity, participation in financial institutions, water harvesting, area closure, afforestation and reforestation, and access to information are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Toma Tora
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Arba Minch University, P.O. Box 21, Arba Minch, Ethiopia,Corresponding author.
| | - Degefa Tolossa Degaga
- College of Development Studies, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 150229, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Abera Uncha Utallo
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Arba Minch University, P.O. Box 21, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
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Orru K, Klaos M, Nero K, Gabel F, Hansson S, Nævestad T. Imagining and assessing future risks: A dynamic scenario‐base social vulnerability analysis framework for disaster planning and response. JOURNAL OF CONTINGENCIES AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1468-5973.12436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kati Orru
- Institute of Social Studies University of Tartu Tartu Estonia
| | | | - Kristi Nero
- Institute of Social Studies University of Tartu Tartu Estonia
| | - Friedrich Gabel
- International Centre for Ethics in Science and Humanities University of Tübingen Tübingen Germany
| | - Sten Hansson
- Institute of Social Studies University of Tartu Tartu Estonia
| | - Tor‐Olav Nævestad
- Department of Security, Safety and Behaviour Institute of Transport Economics Oslo Norway
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Framing Disaster Risk Perception and Vulnerability in Social Media Communication: A Literature Review. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14159148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The paper presents the results of a literature review on how social media can impact on disaster risk perception and vulnerability and how these two aspects are interconnected, trying to understand what factors have consequences especially on informational vulnerability. The paper answers to the increasing requests at an international level to move from a technocratic approach to disaster risk management and reduction to a holistic one, where social perspective is integrated. The paper states that this change of paradigm is relevant, especially considering the role that new technologies in communication and information systems are acquiring in disaster risk management and reduction. What emerges from the literature review is that there is a limited scientific production on the topic and further works are desired, to improve knowledge on how new communication and information technologies can impact on vulnerability and risk perception. Furthermore, the two topics are usually discussed separately. However, the role that risk perception can have in increasing or reducing vulnerability deserves to be better discussed.
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Brunner M, Rietdijk R, Togher L. Training Resources Targeting Social Media Skills to Inform Rehabilitation for People Who Have an Acquired Brain Injury: Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e35595. [PMID: 35482369 PMCID: PMC9100544 DOI: 10.2196/35595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2020 and 2021, people increasingly used the internet to connect socially and professionally. However, people with an acquired brain injury (ABI) experience challenges in using social media, and rehabilitation professionals have reported feeling underprepared to support them in its use. To date, no review of social media skills training to inform ABI rehabilitation has been conducted. OBJECTIVE This scoping review aimed to examine research on interventions addressing social media skills and safety, with a focus on people living with health conditions; free web-based resources for the general public on social media skills training; and currently available online support groups for people with ABI. METHODS An integrative scoping review was conducted, with a systematic search strategy applied in March and November 2020 across OvidSP (MEDLINE, AMED, PsycINFO, and Embase), Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Google, and Facebook. The data collected were critically appraised and synthesized to describe the key content and features of social media training resources. RESULTS This review identified 47 peer-reviewed academic articles, 48 social media training websites, and 120 online support groups for people with ABI. A key recommendation was interactive training with practical components addressing cybersafety, how to use platforms, and how to connect with others. However, no social media training resources that were relevant and accessible for people with ABI were identified. CONCLUSIONS Training resources to support people with ABI in safely using social media are limited. The key content to be addressed and the features to be incorporated into web-based social media training were determined, including the need for interactive training that is co-designed and safe and incorporates practical components that support people with ABI. These findings can be used to inform the development of web-based evidence-based support for people with ABI who may be vulnerable when participating in social media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Brunner
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Eora Nation, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Rachael Rietdijk
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Eora Nation, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Leanne Togher
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Eora Nation, Camperdown, Australia
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Orru K, Nero K, Nævestad T, Schieffelers A, Olson A, Airola M, Kazemekaityte A, Lovasz G, Scurci G, Ludvigsen J, de los Rios Pérez DA. Resilience in care organisations: challenges in maintaining support for vulnerable people in Europe during the Covid-19 pandemic. DISASTERS 2021; 45 Suppl 1:S48-S75. [PMID: 34874082 PMCID: PMC9300196 DOI: 10.1111/disa.12526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The Covid-19 pandemic has challenged the resilience of care organisations (and those dependent on them), especially when services are stopped or restricted. This study focuses on the experiences of care organisations that offer services to individuals in highly precarious situations in 10 European countries. It is based on 32 qualitative interviews and three workshops with managers and staff. The four key types of organisations reviewed largely had the same adaptation patterns in all countries. The most drastic changes were experienced by day centres, which had to suspend or digitise services, whereas night shelters and soup kitchens had to reorganise broadly their work; residential facilities were minimally affected. Given the drastic surge in demand for services, reliance on an overburdened (volunteer) workforce, and a lack of crisis plans, the care organisations with long-term trust networks with clients and intra-organisational cooperation adapted easier. The outcomes were worse for new clients, migrants, psychologically vulnerable people, and those with limited communicative abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kati Orru
- Associate Professor in Sociology of Sustainability at the Institute of Social SciencesUniversity of TartuEstonia
| | - Kristi Nero
- PhD candidate at the Institute of Social SciencesUniversity of TartuEstonia
| | - Tor‐Olav Nævestad
- Chief Research Sociologist at the Transport Economics InstituteNorway
| | | | - Alexandra Olson
- Project Coordinator at the European Affairs OfficeSalvation ArmyBelgium
| | - Merja Airola
- Senior Scientist at the VTT Technical Research Centre of FinlandFinland
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