Citation

Gibson K, Little J, Cowlishaw S, Ipitoa Toromon T, Forbes D, O'Donnell M. Eur. J. Psychotraumatol. 2021; 12(1): e1948253.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, The Author(s), Publisher Co-action Publishing)

DOI

10.1080/20008198.2021.1948253

PMID

34394857

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Skills for Life Adjustment and Resilience (SOLAR) programme is a brief, scalable, psychosocial skill-building programme designed to reduce distress and adjustment difficulties following disaster.

OBJECTIVES: We tested the feasibility, acceptability, efficacy and safety of a culturally adapted version of SOLAR in two remote, cyclone-affected communities in the Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu.

METHOD: This pilot adopted a quasi-experimental, control design involving 99 participants. SOLAR was administered to the treatment group (n = 49) by local, non-specialist facilitators (i.e. 'Coaches') in a massed, group format across 5 consecutive days. The control group (n = 50) had access to Usual Care (UC). We compared group differences (post-intervention vs. post-control) with psychological distress being the primary outcome. We also examined whether changes were maintained at 6-month follow-up.

RESULTS: Large, statistically significant group differences in psychological distress were observed after controlling for baseline scores in favour of the SOLAR group. Mean group outcomes were consistently lower at 6-month follow-up than at baseline. SOLAR was found to be acceptable and safe, and programme feedback from participants and Coaches was overwhelmingly positive.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings contribute to emerging evidence that SOLAR is a flexible, culturally adaptable and scalable intervention that can support individual recovery and adjustment in the aftermath of disaster. RCTs to strengthen evidence of SOLAR's efficacy are warranted.

Language: en

Keywords

Trauma; resilience; climate change; 创伤; posttraumatic stress; psychosocial; adjustment disorder; cambio climático; desastre natural; Estrés Postraumático; Islas del Pacifico; natural disaster; Pacific Islands; Polinesia; Polynesia; psicosocial; resiliencia; Trastorno de adaptación; 创伤后应激; 太平洋岛屿; 心理韧性; 气候变化; 波利尼西亚; 社会心理; 自然灾害; 适应障碍