Emotional and cognitive factors influencing flood preparedness in Dire Dawa town, Ethiopia

Luche Tadesse Ejeta (), Ali Ardalan, Douglas Paton and Mehdi Yaseri
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Luche Tadesse Ejeta: Tehran University of Medical Sciences-International Campus
Ali Ardalan: Tehran University of Medical Science
Douglas Paton: Charles Darwin University
Mehdi Yaseri: Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, 2018, vol. 93, issue 2, No 8, 715-737

Abstract: Abstract Traditional approaches to risk communication ignore the emotional, cognitive and social factors that interact to influence the meaning people attribute to hazards and protective actions. The aim of this study was to investigate the emotional and cognitive factors predicting preparedness intention and community’s preparedness for flood hazards. A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and July 2015, in Dire Dawa town, Ethiopia. Using stratified systematic random sampling, a structured questionnaire was administered to individuals aged 18 and over in 660 households. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) (STATA version 13.0). The study participants’ mean age was 34 years, ranging from 18 to 80 (SD = 12) with equal gender balance. SEM analysis revealed that the total effects of preparedness intention (path coefficient (β) = 0.202, 95% CI: [0.036, 0.369]), past flood disaster experience (β = 0.034, 95% CI: [0.008, 0.061]), trust (β = 0.100, 95% CI: [0.059, 0.142]), anxiety (β = 0.026, 95% CI: [0.018, 0.034), positive outcome expectancy (β = − 0.139, 95% CI: [− 0.253, − 0.026]), negative outcome expectancy (β = 0.105, 95% CI: [0.062, 0.149]), perceived flood likelihood (β = 0.049, 95% CI: [0.012, 0.086]) and consequence (β = − 0.040, 95% CI: [− 0.077, − 0.003]) on community preparedness for flood hazards were statistically significant. The main implication of these findings is that people affected by hazard events in the past experience more anxiety and are more likely to participate in community preparedness activities than those who were not affected.

Keywords: Emotion; Cognitive; Preparedness; Flood; Disaster (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1007/s11069-018-3321-0

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