Most people are psychologically resilient, which means when we endure trauma, we remarkably adapt and overcome it. Marcela Weber is a PhD student who studies what helps people be resilient through and after disasters, including the current COVID-19 pandemic. In her research on disasters and mass violence, Marcela found that self-efficacy helped people be more resilient and more prepared for future disasters. In a study of tornado survivors, she also found meaning and purpose in life bolstered resilience and disaster preparedness. Her team’s recent research on resilience during the current pandemic has shown that collective efficacy more than self-efficacy, or confidence in our community more than in ourselves, could build our resilience and improve our collective efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Marcela (Marci) Weber, MA, is a PhD student in Clinical Psychology with a minor in Interdisciplinary Statistics at The University of Mississippi. She is currently completing a clinical psychology internship in Albuquerque. She has published eight articles and book chapters on psychological resilience in the context of traumatic events ranging from child abuse to disasters. Marcela was the recipient of the Graduate Achievement Award from the University of Mississippi. Recently, she was awarded a grant from the Natural Hazards Center to study resilience during the coronavirus pandemic among international students. After completing her PhD in the summer of 2021, she will begin a postdoctoral research fellowship with the Veterans Administration researching and providing therapy for rural Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.
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