The document discusses the social and psychosocial impacts of earthquakes on recovery in Canterbury, New Zealand, highlighting various surveys that measure quality of life and stressors. It notes prevalent negative impacts like dealing with insurance issues and being in a damaged environment, alongside positive impacts such as renewed appreciation for life. Additionally, it emphasizes the need to learn from past disasters and addresses the mental health impacts on vulnerable populations.

1. GNS Science
The social dimension
David Johnston
Joint Centre for Disaster Research,
GNS Science – Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

2. GNS Science
Following the social and
psychosocial impacts

3. Measuring the recovery
• The Canterbury Wellbeing
Index
• The CERA Wellbeing Survey
• Other research and
monitoring efforts

5. CERA Wellbeing Survey
• Socio-demographic questions, including full address
• Quality of Life Survey (overall Quality of Life, stress,
sense of community);
• Questions regarding impacts of the earthquakes
(both negative and positive); communications and
(confidence in) decision-making around the
earthquakes; and about respondents’ knowledge of
psychosocial services provided as part of the
recovery operation.

6. Quality of life

7. Stressors:
moderate or major negative impact
Most prevalent
negative impacts
Sept 2012 April 2013 Sept 2013 Sept 2015
Dealing with
EQC/insurance issues
in relation to personal
property and house
37 26 23 13
Making decisions
about house damage,
repairs and relocation
29 22 21 11
Being in a damaged
environment and/or
surrounded by
construction work
30 21 20 20

8. Positive impacts
Issue
Sept
2012
April
2013
Sept
2015
Renewed appreciation of life 45 33 27
Spending more time together as a family 36 27 22
Pride in ability to cope under difficult circumstances 41 26 22
Tangible signs of progress - - 22
Access to new and repaired recreational, cultural and
leisure time facilities
- 16 19
Improved quality of house after the repair/rebuild - - 11
Increased opportunities for individual creative expression 9 9 8
Income related benefits 7 8 8

9. • The People in Disasters Conference was in
Christchurch on 24-26 February 2016
• The conference was about the health, in its
broadest sense, of people in disasters,
including both the ill-health suffered, and the
determinants of that ill-health.

10. • There has been a failure to adequately learn
from the lessons of past events to inform
future practice.

11. • Intergenerational impacts focusing on the most
vulnerable (young children, elderly, homeless)
• Cumulative mental health impact are not well
understood where those who are symptom free
develop delayed ‘not coping’ symptoms

12. • http://www.peopleindisasters.org.nz/