Citation

Chu H, Yang JZ. Disasters 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Communication, University at Buffalo.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/disa.12388

PMID

31294861

Abstract

Research on disaster resilience has increasingly focused on the role of social capital and online social networks in disaster recovery. This study complements this field of research by investigating three under addressed issues. First, we analyzed how a social messaging application, WeChat, helped individuals access and mobilize bonding, bridging and linking social capital during Hurricane Harvey. Second, we quantitatively analyzed and identified how individuals' WeChat group usage and social capital influenced their post-disaster well-being. Lastly, our research demonstrated how a minority and immigrant community overcame disadvantages commonly observed in other disaster research by utilizing social media.

RESULTS of this study contribute to governmental and community efforts in fostering resilience during natural and man-made hazards. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Hurricane Harvey; Social messaging network; WeChat; disaster resilience; social capital