Trauma and resilience: The relocation experiences of Haitian women earthquake survivors

Thesis advisor: Ruth McRoyIn January 2010, Haiti experienced a phenomenon no living Haitian had ever known. A devastating earthquake of 7.0 magnitude ravaged the already destitute island nation, killing over 230,000, leaving over one million living in tent cities or open spaces, and affecting millions of Haitians on the island and in the diasporas. This study examines the trauma and resilience of women who survived Haiti's 2010 earthquake and relocated to Boston, MA. A phenomenological qualitative design was used in this research in which 1-2 hour in-depth interviews were conducted with eight Haitian women who were living in Haiti and directly experienced the effects of earthquake. They all subsequently sought refuge from the destruction and chaos by coming to the U.S. This research aimed 1) to discover the culturally specific ways Haitian women survivors respond to trauma and exhibit resilience in the aftermath of a natural disaster and 2) to determine the factors that effect adjustment and wellbeing for Haitian women survivors in Boston. This inquiry was guided and informed by ecological resilience theory. A linguistically and culturally competent research team was formed in order to conduct the study in Haitian Creole, transcribe the narrative data, thematically code and analyze the data in the original language, and then provide clear translations that capture the meaning of the participants' narratives. Findings revealed that barriers such as unresolved legal status, financial stress, empathic stress, and family separation, threatened successful adaptation to their new reality. Ecological factors such as supports from friends, family and community organizations were found to promote resilience in the women survivors. Cultural values promoting connections to Haiti, the power of women, education, and spirituality, also served as motivating factors for acclimating to their relocation. The findings of this study suggest that social workers serving the relocated victims of the recent Haitian earthquake, recognize that the stress of family separation and the legal challenges of immigration, are major factors affecting the resilience of this population.Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2012.Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Social Work.Discipline: Social Work