Resilience to Disaster: Predicting Resilience in a Disaster Prone Community

Abstract

The degree an individual is prepared for a potential threatening event impacts on their ability to be resilient during and after the event. As such, predicting the factors that influence the level of preparation can provide useful recommendations in increasing the level of resilience. The current study sought to extend the applicability of the Extended Parallel Process Model to predicting preparation in a disaster prone community. A total of 279 participants from a cyclone prone community in Northern Australia completed the questionnaire about their experience with extreme weather events, preparation, concern, perceived threat, self-efficacy, social capital and resilience. It was found that self-efficacy predicted preparation (p=.01) and this was mediated by social connectedness (p=.00). Also, the perceived severity of a future weather event was found to predict concern (p=.00) and this was mediated by trust (p=.00). Findings from this study suggest that the adapted EPPM is an acceptable model for making predictions about preparation within a disaster prone community. The results suggest that increasing self-efficacy and social connectedness will increase preparation.