Evaluation of the Effect of Women’s Psychological Power on Disaster Risk Perception

Abstract

Objectives In this study, we aimed to examine the effect of women's perceptions of psychological power related to gender roles on their disaster risk perceptions.Methods This cross-sectional and descriptive study was planned in a correlational design. The study was completed with 272 people who met the inclusion criteria. Data for the study were collected between February 21, 2024 and March 7, 2024. The Independent sample t test was used for the comparison of two independent groups and one way analysis of variance was used for the comparison of two or more unrelated groups. A Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between numerical variables.Results Women who had previously experienced a disaster were found to have higher scores on the strength/advocacy, threat, anxiety, and disaster risk perception scale than those who had not. A moderate positive correlation was found between the increase in women's perceptions of psychological power and their perceptions of threat, controllability, anxiety levels, and disaster risk perceptions, while a low negative correlation was found with their perceptions of fatalism.Conclusions It was concluded that women's psychological strength affects disaster risk perception. Psychological empowerment of women is thought to be important in ensuring disaster resilience.