Dr. Fiona Doherty recently published an article entitled “Social Connectedness and Extreme Weather Adaptive Capacity: A Participatory Photo Mapping Study in Rural Appalachia” in the Journal of Community Practice.
The paper discusses how the intersecting crises of social disconnectedness and climate change-induced extreme weather create a reinforcing cycle of vulnerability, wherein extreme weather strains social environments and amplifies disconnectedness, while social disconnectedness hinders communities’ adaptive capacity.
As Doherty points out, “Climate change may be making us lonelier. In rural Appalachian Ohio, extreme weather affects far more than the environment – it can also disrupt the social connections that help people thrive. Residents describe feeling increasingly isolated when flooded roads and severe weather restrict travel, dangerous temperatures confine them indoors, power outages sever communication, and environmental changes threaten culturally significant places and crops. For communities already facing transportation and digital connectivity challenges, these disruptions compound existing inequalities. Findings highlight an overlooked but common consequence of climate change: the threat extreme weather poses to social connection and the importance of strengthening relationships proactively.”
Her research examines how environmental and climate injustices shape health outcomes in underserved and rural communities, with a focus on strengthening community resilience through relational and place-based strategies. “I bring methodological expertise in qualitative and participatory approaches, including visual and map-based methods that elevate community voices and experiences,” she explained. “Across my work, I connect individual, organizational, and policy perspectives to advance holistic community well‑being.”
Doherty’s article was picked up and published by The Conversation. Read the full article here:
https://theconversation.com/climate-change-may-be-making-us-lonelier-how-heat-waves-and-extreme-weather-disrupt-social-connections-everyone-relies-on-288678
