Risk Information Seeking Behavior in Disaster Resettlement: A Case Study of Ankang City, China

Jia Shi, Xiangnan Hu, Xuesong Guo and Cuihong Lian
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Jia Shi: School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Xiangnan Hu: School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Xuesong Guo: School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Cuihong Lian: School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-19

Abstract: In 2011, the Chinese government launched a disaster mitigation and preparedness program called the Resettlement of South Shaanxi (RSS). Due to the wide geographical scope and complex interests, the possibility of conflicts was increased during and after resettlement. Efficient risk communication improves the supply of information about risks and meets the risk-related information needs of individuals. Using the risk information seeking and processing (RISP) model, this research applied a structural equation model and survey with a structured questionnaire to study ways to improve risk communication in disaster resettlement. A total of 616 valid questionnaires were provided by study respondents in resettlement sites in Ziyang County, Ankang City, Shaanxi Province. The results indicated the following: (1) the public’s information seeking behavior relies more on village committees and village officials than other channels. Emerging information channels, such as Weibo and WeChat (social media applications in China), do not play leading roles in disseminating risk information. (2) There are differences between the information channels used by residents and the channels that residents believe the most. (3) Relevant channel beliefs, information sufficiency, perceived hazard characteristics, and self-efficacy directly influence risk information seeking behavior. However, the capacity to gather information has non-significant direct influences on information seeking behavior. (4) Perceived hazard characteristics and self-efficacy drive risk information seeking behavior in both direct and indirect ways through information sufficiency.

Keywords: information seeking behavior; risk communication; disaster resettlement; structural equation model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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