Evaluation of a Group-Based Resilience Intervention for Typhoon Haiyan Survivors

• Main Authors: Hechanova, Ma. Regina, Ramos, Pia Anna P, Waelde, Lynn
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2016
• Subjects: resilience; disaster; psychosocial interventions; Philippines; Typhoon Haiyan; Clinical Psychology; Emergency and Disaster Management; Psychology
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/psychology-faculty-pubs/37; https://archium.ateneo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1036&context=psychology-faculty-pubs
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

This study evaluated the impact of Katatagan, a culturally adapted, group-based, and mindfulness-informed resilience intervention developed for disaster survivors in the Philippines. The intervention aimed to teach six adaptive coping skills: harnessing strengths, managing physical reactions, managing thoughts and emotions, seeking solutions and support, identifying positive activities, and planning for the future. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted with 163 Typhoon Haiyan survivors. Six-month follow-up assessments were obtained for 37 participants. Pre- and post-results showed improvements in participants’ self-efficacy on all six coping skills. The 6-month follow-up revealed significant improvements in four of the six coping skills. Focus group discussions conducted at follow-up revealed that mindfulness, self-care, strengths, and reframing were some of the topics that were most memorable to participants. Among these, participants identified mindfulness as a skill that they continued to use. Participants also shared that they felt stronger because of the intervention and have shared what they learned with others in their communities.