Some of our most disturbing images of Hurricane Katrina involve the very old, trapped in flooded nursing homes, and the very young, sick in toxic trailers. Using the Katrina-Rita nexus as its reference point, Lifespan Perspectives on Natural Disasters takes the developmental long view on human strengths and vulnerabilities during large-scale devastation and crisis. An expert panel of behavioral scientists and first responders analyzes the psychological impact of natural disasters on¿and coping faculties associated with¿children, adolescents, and young, middle-aged, older, young-old and late-life oldest-old adults. This timely information is invaluable both to mental health service providers and to those tasked with developing age-appropriate disaster preparedness, intervention, and recovery programs. In addition, the book references other deadly storms as well as other major catastrophic events (e.g., the September 11 attacks, the Indian Ocean Tsunami), and includes such topics as:Young children¿s understanding of hurricanes.Positive adjustment in youth after Katrina.How families make meaning out of disaster.Disaster recovery in the workplace.Recovery services for the frail elderly.Coping and health in late life.Preparation and training mental health personnel for disasters.Unique in the disaster literature, Lifespan Perspectives on Natural Disasters serves as a research reference and idea book for professionals and graduate-level students in psychology, social work, and disaster preparedness and services.

Includes evidence-based findings that may stimulate future research and/or inform public policy on natural disaster effects from a developmental perspective

I. Children and Adolescents.-Young Children¿s Demonstrated Understanding of Hurricanes.-An Ecological-Needs-Based Perspective of Adolescent and Youth Emotional Development in the Context of Disaster: Lessons from Hurricane Katrina.-Positive Adjustment in Youth Post-Katrina: The Impact of Child and Maternal Social Support and Coping.-The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Children and Adolescents: Conceptual and Methodological Implications for Assessment and Intervention.-II. Young and Middle Age Adults.-The Psychological Impact of Hurricanes and Storms on Adults.-Families and Disasters: Making Meaning Out of Adversity.-III. Older Adults and the Oldest-Old.-Encounters with Katrina: Dynamics of Older Adults¿ Social Support Networks.-Disaster Services with Frail Older Persons: From Preparation to Recovery.-Natural Disasters and the Oldest-Old: A Psychological Perspective on Coping and Health in Late Life.-Faith, Crisis, Coping, and Meaning Making after Katrina: A Qualitative, Cross-Cohort Examination.-IV. Special Topics.-The Psychology Behind Helping and Prosocial Behaviors: An Examination from Intention to Action.-Building a Disaster Mental Health Response to a Catastrophic Event: Louisiana and Hurricane Katrina.-Disaster Recovery in Workplace Organizations.-Disasters and Population Health