Survey on Personal Resilience:
Rebuilding Lives After Experiencing Trauma
_______________________________________________________________________________
Introduction:
This survey looks at how families or individuals recover and re-build their lives after they
have experienced significant trauma. Trauma can include severe illness, an accident, economic set-back,
homelessness, family violence, fire or natural disaster. Some of the topics examined in this survey include
support you may have received if you have experienced trauma, and how this support may have helped you.
The survey also examines your housing situation (since this may affect resilience), and your future plans.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Section 1: Background Questions
1.
Have you experienced significant trauma in the past 6 years?
Yes
No
(SKIP TO Q.26)
2.
Which of the following type(s) of significant trauma have you experienced in the past 6 years?
(Select all that apply)
A major illness or accident
A major illness or accident that your child(ren) experienced
Death of a child
A death of someone close to you (other than a child)
A major financial setback -- such as a job loss or loss of your home
Fire or natural disaster
Homelessness
Family violence (from a spouse or partner)
Divorce or family break-up
Other type of trauma (please specify):
3.
IF YOU INDICATED MORE THAN ONE RESPONSE IN Q.2 ABOVE:
Which
one
had the greatest impact on your overall life?
A major illness or accident
A major illness or accident that your child(ren) experienced
Death of a child
A death of someone close to you (other than a child)
A major financial setback -- such as a job loss or loss of your home
Fire or natural disaster
Homelessness
Family violence (from a spouse or partner)
Divorce or family break-up
Other type of trauma
PLEASE ANSWER THE REST OF THIS SURVEY WITH RESPECT TO THIS MAIN SOURCE OF TRAUMA
(OR THE ONLY SOURCE OF TRAUMA IF YOU CHOSE ONLY ONE ANSWER IN QUESTION 2)
4.
When did this major trauma occur (if a specific event) or end, if it was ongoing, for example, family violence? (Family violence is deemed to end when you left the abuse situation)
Within the past year
1-2 years ago
3-4 years ago
5-6 years ago
5.
Did you seek help in dealing with the trauma?
Yes
No
(SKIP TO Q.8)
6.
How helpful were the following in aiding your recovery from your trauma?
Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Not at all Helpful
Not Applicable
(a)
Social service agencies
(b)
Health agencies
(c)
Justice agencies
(d)
Your religion/faith group
(e)
Family/friends
(f)
Your employer
(g)
Other source of assistance (specify below in Q.7)
7.
If you indicated 'Other source of assistance' above, please describe:
8.
Was the trauma you experienced related to family violence?
Yes
No
(SKIP TO Q.16)
9.
Who, if anyone, provided assistance with your family violence experience when it occurred?
(Select all that apply)
Received no assistance
Police, law enforcement, courts
Health services/agencies
Social service agencies
Other (please specify):
10.
When did you last leave your abusive situation?
(Please indicate month/year)
Have not left - still in the situation
11.
Did you receive assistance from a family violence shelter?
Yes
No
(SKIP TO Q.15)
12.
How helpful was the family violence shelter in each of the following ways?
Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Not at all Helpful
Prefer not to answer
(a)
Allowing you to cope with the personal- emotional impacts of family violence
(b)
Allowing you to more readily access social services
(c)
Aiding your access to education/employment services
(d)
Making you feel safe
13.
Did the family violence shelter help you in any other ways?
Yes
No
(SKIP TO Q.15)
14.
Please describe how the family violence shelter helped you:
15.
In terms of your family violence experience, which of the following statements best applies to you now?
I will never reconcile with my abuser
I would consider reconciliation with my abuser, if the abuser receives counselling
None of the above
Other (please specify):
Section 2: Your Housing
16.
Were you homeless at any point in the past 6 years?
No
Yes -- For how long?
17.
How satisfied were you with each of the following aspects of the housing that you were living in
at the time you experienced your trauma
?
Very Satisfied
Somewhat Satisfied
Somewhat Dissatisfied
Very Dissatisfied
Not Applicable
(a)
Your overall monthly costs (e.g. rent, other housing expenses)
(b)
Physical condition of your housing
(c)
Number of bedrooms
(d)
Distance from schools
(e)
Distance from grocery stores, banks, transit
(f)
Distance from employment opportunities
(g)
Neighbourhood (safety, level of crime, parks)
(h)
Access to emergency services (e.g. fire, police)
(i)
Friendliness/supportiveness of neighbours
18.
Have you moved since you experienced your traumatic experience?
Yes
No
19.
Whether you moved or stayed in the same housing you had at the time of your trauma, how satisfied are you with your
current housing
in terms of the following:
Very Satisfied
Somewhat Satisfied
Somewhat Dissatisfied
Very Dissatisfied
Not Applicable
(a)
Your overall housing costs (e.g. rent, other housing expenses)
(b)
Physical condition of the housing
(c)
Number of bedrooms
(d)
Distance from schools
(e)
Distance from grocery stores, banks, transit
(f)
Distance from employment opportunities
(g)
Neighbourhood (safety, level of crime, parks)
(h)
Access to emergency services (fire, police)
(i)
Friendliness/supportiveness of neighbours
Section 3: Your Quality of Life and Attitudes
20.
How satisfied are you today with each of the following aspects of your life?
Extremely Satisfied
Somewhat Satisfied
Somewhat Dissatisfied
Very Dissatisfied
Not Applicable
(a)
Your life as a whole
(b)
How you feel about yourself
(c)
Your personal safety
(d)
The amount of fun and enjoyment you have
(e)
The responsibilities you have for members of your family
(f)
Your overall health
(g)
What you are accomplishing in your life
(h)
Your emotional and psychological well-being
(i)
The way you spend your spare time
(j)
Your independence or personal freedom (e.g.
how free you feel to live the kind of life you want)
21.
Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each of the following statements:
Strongly Agree
Somewhat Agree
Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Not Applicable
(a)
I am able to adapt to change
(b)
I can deal with whatever comes
(c)
I can handle unpleasant feelings
(d)
There is really no way I can solve some of my problems
(e)
I try to see the humorous side of problems
(f)
There is little I can do to change important things in my life
(g)
Coping with stress strengthens me
(h)
I often feel helpless when dealing with problems in life
(i)
I tend to bounce back after illness or hardship
(j)
Sometimes I feel that I am being pushed around in life
(k)
I can achieve goals despite facing obstacles
(l)
My future mostly depends on me
(m)
I can stay focused under pressure
(n)
I am not easily discouraged by failure
(o)
I think of myself as a strong person
(p)
I can do just about anything I set my mind to
22.
How well do the following statements describe
your life today
?
Describes Exactly
Describes Somewhat
Does not Describe At All
Not Applicable
(a)
I usually get what I need by relying on my own efforts & ability
(b)
I tend to bounce back after hard times
(c)
I control what happens to me by making my own choices
(d)
I have a hard time making it through stressful events
(e)
It does not take me long to recover from a stressful event
(f)
I use the right resources or tools to achieve my goals
(g)
I learn new skills to accomplish my goals
(h)
It is hard for me to 'snap back' when something bad happens
(i)
Being flexible enables me to achieve my goals
(j)
I usually come through difficult times with little trouble
(k)
I tend to take a long time to get over set-backs in my life
(l)
Careful planning helps me get what I want or need
(m)
I control things by managing my affairs properly
(n)
Once I decide on a goal, I do whatever I can to achieve it
Section 4: Short-Term Changes in Your Life
23.
Since your traumatic experience, to what extent have changes in your life helped you/your family to:
To a Great Extent
To Some Extent
Not at all
No Change
(a)
Be happier
(b)
Have more peace of mind
(c)
Feel more optimistic about the future
(d)
Feel safer
(e)
Feel less stressed
(f)
Feel more pride in yourself & your family
(g)
Deal better with disappointments
(h)
Spend more quality time together
(i)
Cope better with stress in your daily life
(j)
Concentrate more on 'the positive' than the 'negative'
(k)
Resolve problems on your own
(l)
Feel more control over your life/your family's life
(m)
Plan for the future
24.
Since experiencing your trauma, have you made any of the following specific changes in your life?
(Select all that apply)
Thought about or taken steps to improve your work situation
Thought about or taken steps to continue your own education/training
Considered new educational opportunities for your child(ren)
Improved your family's finances
Become more socially involved in your community
Made better use of community services
Made new supportive friends
Begun a new personal relationship
Taken steps to better ensure your personal/household safety
Taken steps to improve your own/your family's health
Renewed or strengthened religious affiliations
Sought counselling or a support group for your trauma
Considered or taken a course on self-protection
Considered/taken legal action against the person(s) who caused your trauma
25.
To what extent do you feel that you have recovered from your trauma, as of today?
Have recovered to a great extent
Have partially recovered
Have not recovered at all
Section 5: Demographic/Other Questions
26.
In which province/territory do you currently live?
BC
Nova Scotia
Alberta
PEI
Saskatchewan
Newfoundland/Labrador
Manitoba
Nunavut
Ontario
Northwest Territories
Quebec
Yukon
New Brunswick
27.
How many adults and children (age 16 or under) currently live in your household?
(a)
Number of adults (including yourself):
(b)
Number of children:
28.
Which of the following best describes the highest level of formal education that you have received?
(Select one)
Elementary school (up to grade 8)
Some high school
Completed high school
Some community college or technical training
Some university
Completed university
Other (please specify):
29.
What is your age?
Under 25
25-35
36-45
46-55
56-65
65+
Prefer not to answer
30.
What is your current employment status?
Employed full-time (35 hours per week or more)
Employed part-time (less than 35 hours per week)
Attending school or taking courses
Other (please specify):
31.
What was your total household income (before taxes) for the previous month?
Prefer not to answer
32.
Are you or any members of your household:
Landed immigrant(s)
Refugee(s)
Aboriginal person(s)
Members of a visible minority
None of the above
Prefer not to answer
33.
What is your gender?
Female
Male
Other
Prefer not to answer
34.
Who invited you to complete this survey?
SPR Associates
Another organization/person (please specify who forwarded the invitation to you):
Section 6: Looking to the Future
35.
Do you have any other comments about how people recover from trauma or the type of help they need?
36.
Would you like to receive a summary of the findings from this survey?
Yes (please provide your email address below)
No
37.
Please indicate your email address:
38.
How many minutes did it take you to complete this survey?
# minutes:
Thank you very much for your time.
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