Perceived coping & concern predict terrorism preparedness in Australia

BMC Public Health

Beverley Raphael¹  Margo Barr³  Alison L Jones²  Melanie Taylor¹  Kingsley Agho¹  Garry Stevens¹ 

[1] University of Western Sydney, School of Medicine, Building EV, Parramatta Campus, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia;Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia;Centre for Epidemiology and Research, New South Wales Ministry of Health, 73 Miller Street, North Sydney, NSW 2060, Australia

关键词: Behaviours;    Avoidance;    Preparedness;    Self-efficacy;    Coping;    Resilience;    Terrorism;   

Others  :  1162691
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-12-1117

 received in 2012-05-27, accepted in 2012-12-22,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Background

In the aftermath of major terrorist incidents research shows population shifts towards protective behaviours, including specific preparedness and avoidance responses. Less is known about individual preparedness in populations with high assumed threat but limited direct exposure, such as Australia. In this study we aimed to determine whether individuals with high perceived coping and higher concern would show greater preparedness to respond to terrorism threats.

Methods

Adults in New South Wales (NSW) completed terrorism perception and response questions as part of computer assisted telephone interviews (CATI) in 2010 (N=2038). Responses were weighted against the NSW population. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the relationship between personal coping/concern factors and terrorism-related preparedness and avoidance behaviours, and to control for potential confounders such as socio-demographic and threat perception factors.

Results

Increased vigilance for suspicious behaviours was the most commonly reported behavioural response to perceived terrorism threat. Multivariate analyses showed that the factor combination of high perceived coping and higher concern was the most consistent predictor of terrorism preparedness behaviours and evacuation intentions, including increased vigilance (Adjusted Odd Ratios (AOR)=2.07, p=0.001) learning evacuation plans (AOR=1.61, p=0.05), establishing emergency contact plans (AOR=2.73, p<0.001), willingness to evacuate homes (AOR=2.20, p=0.039), and willingness to evacuate workplaces or public facilities (AOR=6.19, p=0.015) during potential future incidents.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that terrorism preparedness behaviours are strongly associated with perceived high coping but that this relationship is also mediated by personal concerns relating to this threat. Cognitive variables such as coping self-efficacy are increasingly targeted as part of natural hazard preparedness and are a viable intervention target for terrorism preparedness initiatives. Raising individual coping perceptions may promote greater general and incident-specific preparedness and could form an integral element of community resilience strategies regarding this threat.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 Stevens et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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