Understanding Women’s Psychological Well-Being in Post- Natural Disaster Recovery

Abstract

This study aims to understand psychological conditions of women during post-disaster recovery in Palucity Indonesia. The ethnic women in Palu city are known as the bulonggo (backbone), which describes theirrole, function, and position in the family. The focus of this study is to examine the psychological aspectsof the wellbeing of Kailinese women, especially those who become victims of natural disasters and havelost their possessions. We conducted a survey on 200 women who live in two districts which experiencesevere earthquake and liquefaction. Through a psychological well-being scale adapted from Ryffand Keyes,the result was analyzed using factor analysis and interview methods. The findings indicate that among sixdimensions of wellbeing proposed by Ryffand Keyes, personal growth and positive relationship are the mostsignificant contributing factors to Kailinese women well-being during post-disaster recovery. The findingshighlight the important of building personal growth and positive relationship among women community todevelop their ability to recover from natural disaster distress. More importantly, as the personal growth andpositive relationship contribute to Kailinese women’s well-being, their roles as family backbone (bulonggo)in economics and social is also strengthened.