Psychometric Evaluation of Resilience and Disaster Impact: Case studies in Afghanistan and Vanuatu

Abstract

Psychometric evaluation of individual quality of life allows for rapid, sector-agnostic assessment of disaster impact and community resilience. This information can be used to identify at-risk subgroups for targeted interventions, monitor the effectiveness of specific aid interventions over time, determine the appropriate phase of disaster response or recovery relative for recipients, and identify the current needs of disaster victims. A psychometric assessment approach is a critical complement to technical assessments, which are by nature limited in their ability to utilise human factors to capture an accurate picture of suffering or resilience. This thesis develops the theory underlying the psychometric assessment approach and examines in detail the methodology and results of applying this approach to post-disaster communities in villages in Afghanistan after severe flooding and Vanuatu after a Category 5 tropical cyclone. The studies show the progress of recovery at the time of assessment and identify specific marginalised subgroups disproportionately affected by the respective disasters. Recommendations to inform further humanitarian action in both regions are also developed.