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The Importance of Self-Efficacy in Parental Emergency Preparedness: A Moderated Mediation Model

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2017

Meagan T. Ryan ,
Cynthia A. Rohrbeck  and
Philip W. Wirtz
Meagan T. Ryan*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC
Cynthia A. Rohrbeck
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC
Philip W. Wirtz
Affiliation:
Department of Decision Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Meagan T. Ryan, Department of Psychology, George Washington University, 2125 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20052 (e-mail: msweeney713@email.gwu.edu)
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Abstract

Objective

Disasters occur without warning and can have devastating consequences. Emergency preparedness can reduce negative effects. It is especially important that parents prepare, as children are particularly vulnerable after disasters. This study tested 2 hypotheses: (1) adults with more children are likely to be better prepared than those with fewer or no children because greater caretaking is linked to greater perceived threat of disaster leading to greater preparedness and (2) the strength of this mediational link varies as a function of parental self-efficacy.

Methods

Data from an online survey about human-made disasters (terrorism) with a community convenience sample were used to test the hypothesis that perceived threat mediates the relationship between parental status (number of children cared for) and preparedness behaviors, moderated by level of self-efficacy for emergency preparedness.

Results

A bootstrapping analysis with relevant covariates supported the hypothesized mediating effect of threat on the relationship between parental status and preparedness. This relationship was strengthened at higher levels of parental preparedness self-efficacy.

Conclusions

The results of this study are particularly relevant for preparedness interventions. Because threat leads to preparedness, particularly for parents with high self-efficacy, it is important to focus attention on factors that can improve parents’ sense of self-efficacy. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018; 12: 345–351)

Keywords

emergency preparednessself-efficacyperception of threatparentsterrorism
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 12 , Issue 3 , June 2018 , pp. 345 - 351
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2017 

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