Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2025

Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
Published on: July 24, 2016
The Impact of "Soft" and "Hard" Flood Adaptation Measures on Affected Population's Mental Health: A Mixed Method
Fatima El-Mousawi1,2, Ariel Mundo Ortiz1,2,3, Rawda Berkat1,2,3
1Département de médecine sociale et préventive, École de Santé Publique, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
Background:
The frequency and severity of floods has increased in different regions of the world due to climate change. It is important to examine how adaptation measures impact the mental health of individuals affected by these disasters.
Objective:
The goal of this scoping review was to document the existing studies on the impact of flood adaptation measures in affected populations to identify the best preventive strategies and limitations that deserve further exploration.
Methods:
This study followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Inclusion criteria focused on studies in English or French available in MEDLINE and Web of Science that examined the impact of adaptation measures on the mental health of flood victims. Literature reviews or non-study records were excluded from the analysis.
Results:
A total of 857 records were obtained from the examined databases. After 2 rounds of screening, 9 studies were included for full-text analysis. Six studies sought to identify the factors that drive resilience in flood victims, whereas 3 studies analyzed the impact of external interventions on their mental health.
Conclusions:
The limited number of studies demonstrates the need for public health policies to develop flood adaptation measures that can be used to support the mental health of flood victims.
Related Concept Videos
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment
Responses to Drought and Flooding
Applications of GIS: Disaster Management and Emergency Response
Coping Strategies: Emotion Focused
Psychological Responses to Stress

