Multiple Moderating Effects of Age and Gender on the Relationship between Earthquake Risk Perception and Earthquake Anxiety

Abstract

The aim of this research is to examine the multiple moderating effects of age and gender variables on the relationship between earthquake risk perception and earthquake anxiety in adult individuals. The study sample consisted of 415 participants aged 18 and over, residing in Türkiye, predominantly young adults and students. Data were collected via an online survey form; the "Personal Information Form", "Multidimensional Earthquake Risk Perception Scale", and "Earthquake Anxiety Scale" were used. Analyses were conducted using SPSS 26 and the PROCESS macro developed by Andrew Hayes; Model 3 was preferred to evaluate multiple moderating effects. The findings showed that earthquake risk perception alone did not significantly predict earthquake anxiety, but this relationship was significantly moderated by both age and gender. Earthquake anxiety generally decreased with increasing age; however, the effect of risk perception on anxiety strengthened with age in women while weakening in men. The pairwise interaction terms (Perception & times; Age, Perception & times; Gender, Age & times; Gender) were found to be significant, and the triple interaction (Perception & times; Age & times; Gender) was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The findings show that psychological responses to earthquake risk differ according to age and gender. In women, the effect of risk perception on anxiety strengthens with age, while in men, this effect weakens with age. This indicates that disaster risk communication, psychosocial support, and community-based disaster preparedness programs should be differentiated taking age and gender characteristics into account.