Qualitative analysis of social support and conflict among Mexican and Mexican‐American disaster survivors

Abstract

Abstract We describe in this study the various ways that survivors may experience social support and conflict after a disaster. Using unstructured interviews, 25 Mexicans/Mexican Americans (14 women, 11 men) were asked to recount the ways that they received support, as well as the ways they experienced conflict. Interviews occurred across three cities: Guadalajara, Jalisco (n = 9), Homestead, Florida (n = 6), and Puerto Angel, Oaxaca (n = 10). Recurrent themes were found for both support and conflict. Survivors reported more support from informal sources (family, neighbors) than formal sources (government) and far more tangible (food, shelter) than emotional or informational support. Conflict themes were different for each city. In Mexico, reports of conflict were more likely to involve abuses by government officials while in Homestead conflict involved abuses by residents. Theoretical and practical implications for future disaster research in developing countries are discussed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.