title: Wellbeing in the aftermath of floods.
abstract: The interactions between flood events, their aftermath, and recovery leading to health and wellbeing outcomes for individuals are complex, and the pathways and mechanisms through which wellbeing is affected are often hidden and remain under-researched. This study analyses the diverse processes that explain changes in wellbeing for those experiencing flooding. It identifies key pathways to wellbeing outcomes that concern perceptions of lack of agency, dislocation from home, and disrupted futures inducing negative impacts, with offsetting positive effects through community networks and interactions. The mixed method study is based on data from repeated qualitative semi-structured interviews (n=60) and a structured survey (n=1000) with individuals that experienced flooding directly during winter 2013/14 in two UK regions. The results show for the first time the diversity and intersection of pathways to wellbeing outcomes in the aftermath of floods. The findings suggest that enhanced public health planning and interventions could focus on the precise practices and mechanisms that intersect to produce anxiety, stress, and their amelioration at individual and community levels.
authors.affiliation: Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX44RJ, UK. Electronic address: k.walker-springett@exeter.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walker-Springett
authors.affiliation: Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX44RJ, UK.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.affiliation: Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX44RJ, UK.
authors.forename: W Neil
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Adger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D055868:Floods; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Community; Flooding; Mental stress; Mixed methods; Psychological health; Public health