Self-management of disaster risk and uncertainty: Evaluating a preventive health approach for building resistance to disaster

Abstract

This report presents preliminary findings from an investigation into the relationship between health and well-being and evacuation preparedness for earthquake and tsunami in Wellington, New Zealand.

The overall research aims were to:

Conduct descriptive, exploratory research into the incidence and distribution of primary health-predictive variables and behavioural outcome variables, and
Conduct analytical, explanatory research into the relationships between these variables.
The predictive variables, represented by proxies for strong coping attitudes and autonomous motivation (attitudinal and behavioural self-management skills), were selected for examination of whether they showed a strong and positive association with preparedness actions that reduce the occurrence of mental health trauma and build resilience to stress in the general population.

We designed a quantitative baseline epidemiological survey to address these principal research questions and to also collect background information on general hazard awareness, risk perception, disaster experience, and other environmental correlates. The survey was distributed to 2451 households in a sample of the eastern suburbs of Wellington, and we had a response rate of nearly 30%. Data processing is underway and analyses will continue through the first quarter of 2010, as per the project duration. Preliminary results are not generalizable until the complete data set is processed, but we note with interest that our study population includes many disaster survivors and a sizeable number are concerned that an earthquake will require evacuation from the Wellington region.

Our study approach has been a subject of keen interest and well-received following conference presentations and research discussions at institutions around the world, leading to sustained curiosity in the research subject and a desire to build and maintain collaborative research relationships.