Robert Bolin

Shelter, Housing and Recovery: A Comparison of U.S. Disasters

In this paper we examine the issues associated with the temporary sheltering and housing of victims after natural disasters in the United States. Specific topics addressed include differential access to shelter and housing aid according to social class, ethnicity and related demographic factors; the relationship between post-disaster shelter and housing and long-term recovery; the role of social support networks in the sheltering of victims; and the implications of the research for the provision of shelter and housing aid after disasters.

Older People in Disaster: A Comparison of Black and White Victims

This research examines differential vulnerability to environmental stressors among white and black elderly and non-elderly disaster victims. The research identifies the determinants of psychosocial recovery for those four demographic groups. A total of 431 families who were victims of a tornado were interviewed for the study. A path model of the determinants of psychosocial recovery is presented, and observations are made regarding intervention strategies for older disaster victims.

Belief in an Afterlife: A National Survey

This article presents an exploratory analysis of factors affecting belief in an afterlife. Data are taken from the 1978 subfile on the National Opinion Research Centers General Social Survey. With belief in life after death serving as the dependent variable, a number of variables are introduced in a tabular analysis. Among factors found to be statistically significant are sex, race, age, marital status, and several religious and residential variables. Controlling on frequency of church attendance and religious intensity, it is shown that Protestants have the highest incidence of belief in life after death, followed closely by Catholics, with Jews exhibiting the lowest level. A discriminant analysis was run in order to select a group of independent variables that were good predictors of belief in an afterlife. Race, religion, and church attendance were found to be significant discriminating variables of such belief.