Community resilience through the lens of social support: Recovering from the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull eruption in Iceland

This qualitative study investigated the role of different forms of social capital - bonding, bridg-ing, and linking - in the recovery of families affected by the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull eruption in Ice-land. We interviewed 44 residents in three generations of 12 families, living in the vicinity of the volcano: five in a village and seven in a farming community. We explored what types of social support were considered essential for the recovery, and how these may best be offered for the benefit of the affected community.The results revealed that the families had strong bonding and bridging networks that pro-vided essential support from the onset of the eruption. The linking social capital provided all types of social support which was considered a vital coping and recovery factor. However, our re-sults reveal various aspects of the services which can be improved. Equity in access to social sup-port is essential. While bonding and bridging social capital depend on the connections families may have, linking social capital must not rely on personal ties. It needs to be organised by formal agents, be accessible to all affected, and provided for as long as needed.The study contributes to the understanding of the importance of social support when dealing with the impacts of adverse natural events. It highlights the need for strong linking social capital when aiming for community resilience. Efficient social support measures call for close coopera-tion and coordination between various agents whose daily tasks may not include disaster man-agement.

Automated summary

This qualitative study explores the role of different forms of social capital in the recovery of families affected by the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull eruption in Iceland. The results emphasize the importance of bonding, bridging, and linking social capital in providing support for the affected community. The study also highlights the need for improved services and equitable access to social support in order to facilitate the recovery process.