Comparing vulnerability and adaptive capacity to climate change in individuals of coastal Dominican Republic

Principal component analysis of responses to 26 likert statements resulted in seven factors related to occupational adaptive capacity. Results suggest that many of these factors are similar across individuals in coastal Dominican Republic. However, direct resource users displayed greater attachment to occupation than non-direct users, indicating perhaps a lower willingness to change. Sole providers of household income exhibited lower financial security than those with shared responsibility, which suggests restricted ability to make changes in livelihood. This research can inform climate change preparedness in coastal communities of the Dominican Republic and beyond regarding the characteristics and circumstances that facilitate or inhibit an individual's occupational adaptation in a changing environment.