PERSONAL NETWORKS AND SOCIAL SUPPORT IN DISASTER CONTEXTS

In this study we analyze the effects of post disaster personal networks in the provision of social support among victims of natural disasters. We developed an ex post facto study based on data collected from ninety-four flood victims in Colombia and performed a multiple regression analysis in which three forms of social support (emotional, instrumental, informative) were used as response variables, while data corresponding to the structure and composition of post disaster personal networks operated as predictor variables. Results revealed that density and betweenness of personal networks affect the provision of emotional and informative support in disaster contexts.