Age, Resilience, and Hope Predict Daily Functioning After a Flood

We examined associations among resilience characteristics, risk factors, and self-reported functional impairment using archival data from persons exposed to the 2016 flooding in Baton Rouge, LA. Three flood exposure groups were compared: non-flooded (controls), single disaster (flooded in 2016), and double disaster (flooded in 2005 and again in 2016). The Barkley Functional Impairment Scale (BFIS), a self-report measure of daily functioning, was the primary outcome measure. The single disaster group reported more problems in daily functioning than did the non-flooded controls. Correlations revealed that older age was associated with greater resilience and fewer risk characteristics. Regression analyses confirmed that age, resilience, and hope were associated with greater daily functioning after key sociodemographic factors and risk variables were accounted for. Strategies for managing the long-term impacts of multiple disasters for people who live in geographic areas that are prone to severe weather events are discussed.