Youth and at-risk behavior: the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in the Caribbean Island of Dominica

Abstract

Hurricane devastation in the Caribbean has become a very common phenomenon over the past decades, and the destruction that follows comes with severe implications for the people directly affected by it. This study aims to explore the experiences and perspectives of youth in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria on the island of Dominica concerning deviant behaviors in youth, educational aspirations, and choice. The challenges in the aftermath of a hurricane in the Caribbean are unique for many reasons. Due to these unique challenges, this study is necessary to understand how the youth in developing Caribbean islands respond to destruction after a hurricane. In general, the youth describe increased involvement in deviant behavior after the hurricane. There was also a shift in choice and an increase in educational aspirations after the hurricane. These changes have important policy implications which are relevant to youth in the Caribbean after a natural disaster.