Disaster communication ecology in multiethnic communities: Understanding disaster coping and community resilience from a communication resource approach

ABSTRACT

The challenge for multiethnic communities to recover from disasters is well noted. Yet, research on which types of resources can help communities recuperate remains scarce. The current study explores how community-level communication resources—including interpersonal connections, local media storytelling, community-based organizations, and official emergency management communication—may function as a resource network for residents from diverse backgrounds to navigate the strenuous process of post-disaster recovery. Results based on a community survey confirm the positive link between disaster communication ecology and individuals’ disaster-coping outcomes. Findings further identify ethnicity-based divergence where certain communication resources play a more important role than others.

KEYWORDS:

• Disaster communication ecology
• multiethnic community
• disaster-coping efficacy
• community resilience

Notes

1 Only four racial and ethnic categories were provided in the first screening question. However, it is possible that mixed raced individuals chose to identify with one pre-set category and participated in the survey. Since the study focuses on avowed identity, the self-conceived racial and ethnic identification, the inclusion of mix-raced individuals does not compromise the current results.

2 Immigration status was asked by the question “who in your family first came to the United States.” Those who answered “Me/spouse/sibling” were coded as first-generation immigrants, “Parent/aunt/uncle” were coded as second-generation immigrants, and “Grandparents or great grandparents” were coded as native citizens.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Emerging Scholar Grant from AEJMC.