ERIC Number: EJ984866
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1551-2169
EISSN: N/A
The Double-Edged Sword of "Disaster Volunteerism": A Study of New Orleans Rebirth Movement Participants
Heldman, Caroline; Israel-Trummel, Mackenzie
Journal of Political Science Education, v8 n4 p311-332 2012
We examine the political and personal effects of disaster volunteerism with participants of the New Orleans Rebirth Movement (NORM) using four waves of pre- and postsurveys and qualitative analysis of participant journals. Significant increases are found in internal political efficacy, desire to be active in politics, and value placed on social justice issues, but disaster volunteerism also dramatically increases cynicism and emotional distress. Nearly every NORM participant in the study experienced emotional stress, and 1-in-5 self-medicated as a coping strategy upon one's return. Disaster volunteerism holds the potential to rapidly accelerate social justice consciousness and activism, even among those already inclined to be active, but the cost is high. Further research on this unique and increasingly popular type of community-based learning is needed. (Contains 3 figures and 11 notes.)
Descriptors: Social Justice, Inservice Teacher Education, Coping, Statistical Data, Natural Disasters, Volunteers, Political Influences, Surveys, Qualitative Research, Diaries, Efficiency, Citizen Participation, Political Attitudes, Emotional Disturbances, Psychological Patterns, Activism, Service Learning
Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Louisiana
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A