Responding to the Needs of Children and Families After a Disaster: Linkages Between Unmet Needs and Caregiver Functioning

摘要

Disasters may negatively influence caregivers’ ability to respond to the needs of their families. In this context, service organizations’ response to families’ needs may affect caregivers’ symptoms and parenting. Interviews were conducted with caregivers affected by Hurricane Katrina approximately 12-months (T1; N = 68) and 2 years post-hurricane (T2; N = 52). Caregivers reported high levels of service needs and unmet needs for themselves and their child(ren) and family at both time points. Regression analyses indicated that after accounting for hurricane exposure: (a) child unmet service needs significantly contributed to T1 caregiver distress; (b) caregiver service needs and child unmet needs were associated with higher levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS); and (c) caregiver unmet needs related to greater strain at T1. At T2, after accounting for T1 scores, service need variables did not contribute to distress or PTSS. Caregiver strain at T1 and T1 child service needs were associated with greater T2 strain. These findings highlight the importance of extending the availability of services beyond the initial post-disaster recovery period to better meet the needs of caregivers and families.