Sustaining the helpers: Mixed methods study of volunteers' resilience in coastal disaster Java
Yuli A Dewi1,2, Koentjoro Soeparno1, Pradytia P Pertiwi1
1Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Jamba (Potchefstroom, South Africa)
|June 10, 2026
Summary
Disaster volunteer resilience in Demak is supported by personal factors and multisystem interactions, including cultural values and social support. This highlights the need for holistic approaches to strengthen volunteer capacity in disaster response.
Area of Science:
- Disaster risk reduction and management
- Social sciences
- Psychology
Background:
- Recurrent climate-driven floods in Demak, Central Java, strain local resources and test disaster volunteer resilience.
- Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) volunteers provided a 2-month emergency response following major floods in March 2024.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the levels of resilience among PMI volunteers in Demak.
- To identify multisystem factors supporting disaster volunteer resilience.
Main Methods:
- Sequential explanatory mixed methods study.
- Survey using adapted Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) with 69 PMI volunteers.
- Semi-structured interviews with 17 participants (volunteers, family, PMI staff).
- Descriptive statistical and thematic analyses integrated via joint display.
Main Results:
- 63.8% of volunteers exhibited moderate resilience.
- Personal competence and internal trust were prominent individual factors.
- Five key themes emerged: personal competence, spirituality, cultural values, emotional support, and functional support.
Conclusions:
- Disaster volunteer resilience is sustained by multisystem interactions, not solely individual capacity.
- Culturally rooted values, familial support, collective spirituality, and organizational support are crucial.
- Findings offer context-specific insights for enhancing volunteer support in disaster risk reduction and humanitarian response.
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