Psychosocial Impacts of the 16A Earthquake on the Ecuadorian Coast

This project focuses on evaluating the psychosocial consequences of the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the Ecuadorian coast on April 16, 2016 (16A), specifically targeting the Tarqui parish in Manta. The study addresses the need to move beyond purely psychological assessment to understand the full psychosocial impact on affected populations, families, and community structures, as natural disasters increase social vulnerability. The proposed methodology is quantitative, involving descriptive analysis, mean comparisons, and correlations to measure impacts at the individual (clinical), family, and community levels. Advanced techniques such as multivariate analysis, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and multiple regression models will be utilized to develop an explanatory model of the earthquake's psychosocial impact. The ultimate goal is to generate impact indicators that incorporate psychosocial variables, facilitating the quantification of damage and providing tools for future disaster response efforts.<br/><br/><b>Goal</b>: <br/>To evaluate the psychosocial impact of the April 16, 2016 (16A) earthquake on the individual, family, and community levels among residents of the Tarqui parish in Manta, Ecuador.<br/><br/><b>Research lines</b>: <br/>Political, social and community psychology