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Correlates of hazards education for youth: a replication study

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Abstract

Youth and families have been identified as particularly vulnerable to the effects of hazardous events. This study examined correlates of hazards education involvement for youth. Participants were 407 youth between the ages of 7 and 18 who filled out several indices reflecting hazards awareness, risk perceptions, psychological factors, knowledge, and adoption of hazards adjustments and family emergency plans. Additionally, interactive factors were assessed, the extent to which education programs encouraged youth to discuss their learning with parents and whether such discussions occurred. Overall, findings replicated and extended previous research. First, younger children were generally seen to be more prepared; girls, more knowledgeable. Second, youth involved in education programs had significantly higher levels of correct knowledge of readiness and response behaviors, lower levels of incorrect knowledge, and reported more home-based hazards adjustments. One important area where no differences were seen was in the area of family emergency planning. Predictors of increased educational benefits included program recency, encouragement to interact with parents and, to a slightly lesser extent, parent discussion willingness. Combined with previous research indicating that even simple and brief reading and discussion programs can produce tangible benefits, findings here encourage the incorporation of easy-to-do features that can increase benefits for youth and their families.

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Notes

  1. We would like to thank an anonymous reviewer for this suggestion.

  2. Totals do not add up to 407 here and regarding other demographics owing to missing data.

  3. Pakeha is a conventional New Zealand term used to indicate a New Zealander of European descent.

  4. Specific breakdowns are available from the authors.

  5. An expanded zero-order correlation matrix has also been included in Appendix for reader inspection. This includes all relevant variables including age.

Abbreviations

FEMA:

Federal Emergency Management Agency

NIMH:

National Institute of Mental Health

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Institute of Health and Social Science Research, CQUniversity Australia, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia

    Kevin R. Ronan

  2. Institute of Health and Social Science Research, CQUniversity Australia, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia

    Kylie Crellin

  3. Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

    David Johnston

  4. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, Wellington, New Zealand

    David Johnston

Authors
  1. Kevin R. Ronan
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  2. Kylie Crellin
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  3. David Johnston
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Correspondence to Kevin R. Ronan.

Appendix

Appendix

See Table 9.

Table 9 Zero-order correlation matrix
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Ronan, K.R., Crellin, K. & Johnston, D. Correlates of hazards education for youth: a replication study. Nat Hazards 53, 503–526 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-009-9444-6

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