Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Older Adults represent a large and steadily growing segment of the global population. Despite widespread generalizations emphasizing vulnerability, older adults exhibit diverse capacities that contribute to disaster resilience (1). This poster presents a structured overview of the methods and key findings of a scoping review examining factors that promote and inhibit disaster resilience among older adults. The study was conducted within the BMFTR-funded LifeGRID project. A total of 970 studies were identified through searches in 2 databases (PubMed & CINAHL). After applying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 77 studies were included in the final analysis. A total of 282 factors were extracted and categorized into three domains, each including promoting, inhibiting, and ambivalent factors. The preliminary findings indicate that on an individual level the disaster resilience of older adults is influenced through their health status (i.e. comorbidities, physical ability) and coping behaviors (i.e. adaption, optimism). Among the most frequently identified factors on a social level is social support for themselves or to others. Additionally, access to healthcare systems (i.e. nursing service, medication) emerges as a critical determinant on a structural level. Older adults should be considered particularly as vulnerable in the context of natural disasters; however, they are not defenseless. They rather possess a wide range of capacities and competencies that -if available and accessible- show their resilience in disaster situations. A nuanced understanding of this population group is therefore essential for both disaster risk reduction strategies and public health research. Peng Y, Chen Q, Xu H, Shi M, Li L, Wu XV. The prevalence and risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety among older survivors post-earthquake: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2025;370:168–80. Key messages • Older adults in natural disasters are in a vulnerable position but are not overall defenseless. • Disaster resilience of older adults are found on individual, social and structural level.
Authors: R Battenberg, MM Otto, P Ehbrecht, H Zeeb, F Koppelin
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,181
OpenAlex ID: W7223685769