The determinants affecting the intention of urban residents to prepare for flood risk in China

Abstract

Abstract. In the context of global warming and China's disaster response patterns, it is critical to understand how to promote the effectiveness of household flood protection measures among the public. In this study, we developed a comprehensive theoretical framework based on protection motivation theory (PMT) to identify the main determinants that influence urban residents' intention to prepare for flood risk. In addition to the fundamental factors in PMT, this framework also considered the influence of individual coping attitudes and social context. We selected urban residents in flood-prone areas of Henan Province as the study population as well as collected 857 valid questionnaires through an online survey. Firstly, the results showed that both threat perception and coping appraisal of flood risk are effective in increasing residents' intention to prepare. Secondly, negative risk-coping attitudes reduced people's intention to prepare. If people do not perceive preparedness actions as absolutely necessary, they will postpone them or shift their focus to public flood protection measures. In addition, analysis of affective pathways revealed that negative emotion (worry) was primarily influenced by perceptions of flood consequences and was not significantly related to perceptions of likelihood. The analysis of trust mechanisms showed that higher levels of trust in public flood protection reduced people's perceptions of flood risk, thereby hindering their intention to prepare for flood risk. Finally, we found that the positive influence of social norms on preparedness intentions makes it appropriate to focus on the power of social mobilization. The findings will provide theoretical references for government departments to design further policy measures to improve integrated flood risk management in China.

Determining Factors Affecting the Protective Behavior of Filipinos in Urban Areas for Natural Calamities Using an Integration of Protection Motivation Theory, Theory of Planned Behavior, and Ergonomic Appraisal: A Sustainable Disaster Preparedness Approach

“…The result entails how a person's attitude, such as their attitude when it comes to their knowledge of disaster preparedness and ensuring that their families have a basic knowledge of disaster preparedness, has a significant role when it comes to influencing an individual's intention to prepare. Several other studies have also proven the indicated results; the study conducted by Wang et al [121] confirmed that attitude has a direct effect on an individual's behavioral intention. In this case, it was the intention of an individual to prepare for flood risks in China.…”

That Is Not My House? Household Renters’ Flood Preparedness Intention in the East Coast Region of Malaysia

“…Generally, when individuals have a more positive attitude toward a specific behavior, they are more likely to engage in that behavior, and vice versa. Therefore, when individuals are faced with the risk of floods, their likelihood of implementing flood prevention measures increases if they have a more positive attitude toward such measures (Wang et al 2022). However, the relationship between attitude towards flood preparedness and intention to prepare can be weakened when individuals have higher levels of trust in public protection.…”