Perceived coping & concern predict terrorism preparedness in Australia

Abstract

BackgroundIn 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.MethodsAdults 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.ResultsIncreased 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.ConclusionThe 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.

Perception of Risk and Terrorism-Related Behavior Change: Dual Influences of Probabilistic Reasoning and Reality Testing

“…The findings for health/safety and recreational make sense given that key aspects of terrorism-related behavior change relate to lifestyle choices ( Torabi and Seo, 2004 ). The finding for ethical is less clear-cut, but it is possible that this outcome pertains to a greater awareness of order, rules, and increased vigilance, which Stevens et al (2012) found was a commonly reported behavioral response to a perceived terrorist threat.…”

“…Contrastingly, risk as feelings draws upon intuitive reactions that are the outcome of fast associative processing based on experience. This process is guided by heuristics and biased by affective signals ( Slovic et al, 2004 ), self-efficacy ( Stevens et al, 2012 ) and shared normative perceptions ( Goodwin et al, 2005 ). A predominant characteristic of risk as feelings is the influence of affective signals and the motivated behavior that results in order to prolong or avoid experiences.…”

Living Well in Times of Threat: The Importance of Adjustment Processes to Explain Functional Adaptation to Uncertain Security in Expatriates Deployed in the Sudan

“…Protection motivation theory (Maddux & Rogers, ) posits that an individual's preparation is dependent on perceived threat (i.e., likelihood of occurrence) and perceived coping ability (i.e., the ability to do something against the threat), which is the result of self‐efficacy and outcome efficacy, an assumption that is well supported by empirical data (Floyd, Prentice‐Dunn, & Rogers, ). Importantly, it has been shown that preparedness for disaster is affected by efficacy beliefs in various contexts, such as terrorism (Stevens et al., ; Wirtz & Rohrbeck, ) and natural disasters (Wadsworth, Santiago, & Einhorn, ; Whealin, Ruzek, & Southwick, ). The relationship of adjustment processes and self‐efficacy and outcome efficacy has not been addressed in the interviews, but future research needs to address the effect of perceived efficacy of security measures on adjustment processes, since theories of adjustment focusing on primary control (i.e., assimilation) posit that efficacy beliefs, perceived control over outcomes, are central for assimilation (Bak & Brandtstädter, ; Brandtstädter & Renner, ; Riediger & Ebner, ).…”

Coping support factors among Australians affected by terrorism: 2002 Bali bombing survivors speak

“…Surveys were completed in 45–55 minutes and were conducted by professional interviewers from the NSW Health Survey Program, who also did the transcriptions. Telephone surveys were used to be consistent with other samples in a wider study of disaster‐resilience factors 6 . The validity of telephone‐based interviews to assess stress and anxiety conditions has been demonstrated 7 …”

“…Telephone surveys were used to be consistent with other samples in a wider study of disaster-resilience factors. 6 The validity of telephone-based interviews to assess stress and anxiety conditions has been demonstrated. 7…”