Prediction and Understanding of Resilience in Albertan Families: Longitudinal Study of Disaster Responses (PURLS) - Protocol

Dawn Kingston; Muhammad K Mughal; Muhammad Arshad; Igor Kovalchuk; Gerlinde A S Metz; Katherine Wynne-Edwards; Suzanne King; Shui Jiang; Lynne Postovit; Abdul Wajid; Sheila McDonald; Donna M Slater; Suzanne C Tough; Katherine Aitchison; Paul Arnold

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00729

Prediction and Understanding of Resilience in Albertan Families: Longitudinal Study of Disaster Responses (PURLS) - Protocol

Front Psychiatry. 2019 Oct 31:10:729. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00729. eCollection 2019.

Authors

Dawn Kingston¹, Muhammad K Mughal¹, Muhammad Arshad^{1

2}, Igor Kovalchuk³, Gerlinde A S Metz⁴, Katherine Wynne-Edwards⁵, Suzanne King⁶, Shui Jiang⁷, Lynne Postovit⁸, Abdul Wajid¹, Sheila McDonald⁹, Donna M Slater^{10

11}, Suzanne C Tough⁹, Katherine Aitchison⁷, Paul Arnold²

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
² Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
³ Biological Sciences Department, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada.
⁴ Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada.
⁵ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁷ Departments of Psychiatry and Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
⁸ Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
⁹ Child Development Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
¹⁰ Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
¹¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.

Abstract

Exposure to a natural disaster in childhood can have serious, long-lasting consequences, impacting physical and mental health, development, and learning. Although many children experience negative effects after a disaster, the majority do not, and what differentiates these groups is not well understood. Some of the factors that influence disaster-related outcomes in the midst of adversity include parents' mental health, the home environment, and socioeconomic status. Furthermore, genetics has also a role to play in how children respond to stressors. We had the opportunity to conduct a natural experiment of disaster recovery following the Alberta 2013 Flood. This paper presents the detailed protocol on prediction of resilience in Albertan families, and validation with cortisol data. In addition, data collection procedures, developing resiliency screening tools, candidate gene identification, genotyping, DNA methylation, and genomic analyses are described to achieve the research objectives. This study produced new knowledge by using pre- and post-disaster information on children's health and development, including children's genetics and responses to stress. This information has been identified as important to governments and other organizations invested in early child development. Our comprehensive research plan generates evidence that can be mobilized population-based approaches to improve child and family resiliency.

Keywords: child development; genetics; protocol; resiliency; stress.