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[HDS10-10] The influence of risk literacy, recognition of earthquake, and psychographic factors on disaster prevention behaviors
Keywords:risk literacy, disaster prevention behaviors, psychographics, earthquake
No execution of safety measure behaviors during disasters by people is a big issue in disaster risk studies. Risk literacy is described as the basic knowledge and thinking ability needed to make risk judgments and behavioral choices. Recently, a new disaster communication method that makes people imagine the damage scene that could occur with time during disasters has been introduced in addition to conventional numerical estimations of damage from disasters. A previous study indicated that the more vivid the image of damage expected in the event of disasters, the more engagement in disaster prevention behaviors. This study hypothesized that risk literacy, demographics, and psychographics influence the forming image of damage expected in the event of disasters and lead to disaster prevention behaviors. We assumed the experience of disaster victims and the recognition of hazardmaps as demographic factors related to disasters. Previous studies have indicated that the experience of victims and recognition of hazardmaps are not always associated with safety measures behaviors. We also assumed the regulatory focus theory to be a psychographic factor. The regulatory focus theory has two aspects: promotion focus, which selects behaviors to ensure safety, and prevention focus, which selects behaviors to avoid risk. Thus, this study examines the effects of these factors on disaster prevention behaviors through the image of damage expected in the event of an earthquake disaster.
This study was conducted as an online survey at the end of December 2023. We extracted each 300 samples, based on the 10 segments’ gender (male vs. female) × age (20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60 and over) and recruited respondents. n = 1159 samples (Male: 51%, female: 19%; Mage = 47.19, SD = 15.32) were obtained by excluding respondents with an incorrect answer to satisficing-behavior item, extremely short or long response times, from the respondents.
The results showed that respondents took an average of 4.14 (SD = 4.87) disaster prevention behaviors (Figure 1_a). 85% of respondents expected a future occurrence of a large earthquake. 33% of them experienced a victim of disaster. In addition, 68% of respondents recognized the hazardmap of eathquakes. The image of damage expected in the event of an earthquake disaster consisted of two aspects: a crisis of life and infrastructure and an expansion of damage (Figure 1_b). Risk literacy consisted of four aspects (Figure 1_c). Two aspects of the regulatory focus theory were confirmed (Figure 1_d).
To examine the relationships between these antecedents, the image of damage expected in the event of an earthquake, and disaster prevention behaviors, we conducted a path analysis with structural equation modeling. Figure 1_e shows the results of the modeling. The image of a crisis of life and infrastructure, experience of victims, recognition of hazardmap, risk aversion tendency, paradox on risk perception, and basic knowledge of risk were directly related to disaster prevention behaviors. In addition, the image of a crisis of life and infrastructure was affected by the expectation of a large earthquake, recognition of hazardmap, all aspects of risk literacy, and promotion focus. Moreover, we analyzed the mediation effects that these antecedents influenced disaster behavior through the image of crisis of life and infrastructure (Table 1). All mediation effects were significant.
Our study indicated that the image of a crisis of life and infrastructure mainly leads to disaster prevention behavior. The ability to imagine the concrete damage in the event of a disaster is an important factor in promoting disaster prevention behaviors. Recognition of earthquakes, risk literacy, and the tendency to ensure security are associated with forming an image. In addition, risk aversion tendency in risk literacy tended to decrease disaster prevention behaviors, and paradox on risk perception and basic knowledge of risk tended to increase disaster prevention behaviors. The degree of risk literacy may affect the motivation for disaster prevention behaviors. There was little relationship between the experience of victims and the image of damage in the event of disasters or disaster prevention behaviors. The experience of victims may not be an important factor in leading disaster prevention behaviors.
Thus, this study indicates that knowledge of disaster, thinking ability of risk events, and focus on safety are likely to form a concrete image in the event of disasters and lead to engaging in disaster prevention behaviors. This study suggests the importance of designing disaster literacy based on people’s insights.
This study was conducted as an online survey at the end of December 2023. We extracted each 300 samples, based on the 10 segments’ gender (male vs. female) × age (20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60 and over) and recruited respondents. n = 1159 samples (Male: 51%, female: 19%; Mage = 47.19, SD = 15.32) were obtained by excluding respondents with an incorrect answer to satisficing-behavior item, extremely short or long response times, from the respondents.
The results showed that respondents took an average of 4.14 (SD = 4.87) disaster prevention behaviors (Figure 1_a). 85% of respondents expected a future occurrence of a large earthquake. 33% of them experienced a victim of disaster. In addition, 68% of respondents recognized the hazardmap of eathquakes. The image of damage expected in the event of an earthquake disaster consisted of two aspects: a crisis of life and infrastructure and an expansion of damage (Figure 1_b). Risk literacy consisted of four aspects (Figure 1_c). Two aspects of the regulatory focus theory were confirmed (Figure 1_d).
To examine the relationships between these antecedents, the image of damage expected in the event of an earthquake, and disaster prevention behaviors, we conducted a path analysis with structural equation modeling. Figure 1_e shows the results of the modeling. The image of a crisis of life and infrastructure, experience of victims, recognition of hazardmap, risk aversion tendency, paradox on risk perception, and basic knowledge of risk were directly related to disaster prevention behaviors. In addition, the image of a crisis of life and infrastructure was affected by the expectation of a large earthquake, recognition of hazardmap, all aspects of risk literacy, and promotion focus. Moreover, we analyzed the mediation effects that these antecedents influenced disaster behavior through the image of crisis of life and infrastructure (Table 1). All mediation effects were significant.
Our study indicated that the image of a crisis of life and infrastructure mainly leads to disaster prevention behavior. The ability to imagine the concrete damage in the event of a disaster is an important factor in promoting disaster prevention behaviors. Recognition of earthquakes, risk literacy, and the tendency to ensure security are associated with forming an image. In addition, risk aversion tendency in risk literacy tended to decrease disaster prevention behaviors, and paradox on risk perception and basic knowledge of risk tended to increase disaster prevention behaviors. The degree of risk literacy may affect the motivation for disaster prevention behaviors. There was little relationship between the experience of victims and the image of damage in the event of disasters or disaster prevention behaviors. The experience of victims may not be an important factor in leading disaster prevention behaviors.
Thus, this study indicates that knowledge of disaster, thinking ability of risk events, and focus on safety are likely to form a concrete image in the event of disasters and lead to engaging in disaster prevention behaviors. This study suggests the importance of designing disaster literacy based on people’s insights.