Background: Disaster-related mental health problems have been a focus of recent international scholarly interest. Typhoon Morakot caused exceptional destruction in Southern Taiwan, and victims suffered physically, psychologically and financially in its aftermath.
Purpose: This study investigates the post-traumatic response and coping behaviors of victims one year after Typhoon Morakot.
Methods: Researchers used a phenomenological method with purposive sampling and interviewed 10 Typhoon Morakot victims. Data were collected using deep, semi-structured interviews. All interview sessions were tape-recorded. Researchers used Colaizzi's seven-step phenomenological method to analyze data.
Results: Three common themes emerged in subjects following their disaster experiences. The first was residual traumatic response, including fear of continued flooding, fear of future flood recurrence, indifference in responses, and living on alert; The second was insecurity in daily life due to changed surroundings, including anxiety and a heavy sense of loss; The third was conformity in coping behaviors, including shifting attention away from the disaster, turning to a pluralistic support system, having an optimistic outlook on life, and living in the moment.
Conclusion: Investigating traumatic response experiences and coping behaviors one year after the Typhoon Morakot disaster can help guide healthcare professionals to promote evidence-based health and nursing services. Findings also provide information to healthcare providers essential to improving nursing quality for victims of disasters.