Clinical Scorecard: The Role of Community Social Capital in Fostering Posttraumatic Growth in Older Adults 11 Years Following a Natural Disaster
At a Glance
Category
Detail
Condition
Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) following natural disaster exposure
Key Mechanisms
Community-level social capital, including informal socializing and social participation, fosters PTG
Target Population
Older adults (aged 65 years or older) who survived the 2011 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
Care Setting
Community and postdisaster recovery settings
Key Highlights
Predisaster community-level informal socializing and social participation are associated with higher PTG scores 11 years postdisaster.
Maintenance of community social capital during the postdisaster period supports greater PTG among older survivors.
Interventions promoting social interactions among neighbors may effectively enhance PTG after natural disasters.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Assess posttraumatic growth in older disaster survivors using validated PTG measures focusing on dimensions such as improved relationships and personal strength.
Management
Encourage and facilitate informal socializing and social participation at the community level to promote PTG.
Develop community-based interventions that strengthen social capital before and after disasters.
Monitoring & Follow-up
Conduct longitudinal follow-up of older survivors to monitor PTG development and social capital dynamics.
Evaluate community social capital indicators (eg, social participation rates, informal social interactions) periodically.
Risks
Older adults with low community social capital may be at risk for lower PTG and poorer psychological recovery.
Social isolation and lack of community engagement can hinder postdisaster psychological growth.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years or older exposed to natural disasters
Higher levels of community social capital, particularly informal socializing and social participation, are prospectively associated with improved posttraumatic growth outcomes.
Clinical Best Practices
Implement community programs that promote neighborly social interactions and participation in social activities.
Incorporate social capital assessments into disaster preparedness and recovery planning for older populations.
Recognize the contextual effect of community social capital on individual psychological resilience and growth.
