#4645Boricuas: Twitter reactions to the estimates of deaths by Hurricane María in Puerto Rico

J Community Psychol. 2021 Apr;49(3):768-790. doi: 10.1002/jcop.22295. Epub 2020 Jan 16.

Abstract

This study explores the sentiment expressed by Twitter users after the Harvard University report was released, reporting a death estimate of 4,645 Puerto Ricans following Hurricane María. Researchers utilized the NVivo addition NCapture to collect Twitter data including the hashtag #4645Boricuas. Thematic content analyses explored emergent themes within the hashtag. Geographic information systems (GIS) documented the location of Tweets and differences across geographical locations among Twitter users. The themes that emerged in #4645Boricuas included: disaster phases, media, psychological processes, and politics. GIS documented that Tweets from Puerto Rico were more likely to discuss themes of psychological processes, politics, and resilience compared with disaster phases or media. The present data highlights how individuals engage with Twitter to cope following the trauma of natural disasters.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Cyclonic Storms*
  • Disasters*
  • Humans
  • Puerto Rico
  • Social Media*