Is Externality a Mediator of Experience–Behaviour and Information–Action Hypothesis in Disaster Preparedness?

Abstract

T his study examines whether disaster experience and awareness, mediated by external locus of control, influence disaster preparedness behavior. Data were collected from 300 people in floodprone and a further 300 in heat-wave affected areas in Orissa (a state situated in south-eastern part of India). Results reveal that prior experience of hazard events and knowledge of protective actions significantly facilitates flood and heat-wave preparedness. However, locus of control mediates this relationship. Disaster experienced and aware people characterised by having an external control were less prepared. External control partially mediates between experience-behaviour and information-action link. These findings suggest that the effects of personal experience and awareness on self-protective behaviour are weakened by external attribution.

Place attachment and flood preparedness

“…Disaster preparedness is positively affected, though not very strongly, by age, marital status, children living at home, home ownership and length of residence in the same location, and previous disaster experience, among others (Dooley et al, 1992;Miceli, Sotgiu, & Settanni, 2008;Mishra & Suar, 2005;Mishra, Suar, & Paton, 2009). The general conclusion however, is that the level of household preparedness varies but is not very high (e.g.…”

Self-help and mutual assistance in the aftermath of a tsunami: How individual factors contribute to resolving difficulties

“…First, the list of personality factors that we assessed was obviously not all-inclusive. In particular, self-efficacy and locus of control, which have previously been implicated in disaster survival [ 33 , 34 ] or life recovery [ 35 ], should be included in future studies for a more comprehensive picture of the personality correlates of disaster survival. Second, the causal relationship between personality factors and experience of difficulty or its resolution should be carefully examined, as self-evaluation of one’s own personality may be biased.…”

Formal education and disaster response of children: evidence from coastal villages in Indonesia

“…Fourth, it has long been argued since Sims and Baumann (1972) that locus of control is a critical determinant of disaster mortality, and previous studies consistently show its effect on attitude to and knowledge about disasters (Baumann and Sims 1978;Karanci et al 2005;López-Vázquez and Marván 2012;McClure et al 1999;Mishra et al 2009). However, as far as we know, this study is the first to test the association between locus of control and disaster response.…”