Understanding community residents’ disaster preparedness: is cognitive resilience a solution?
BMC Public Health, cilt.26, sa.1, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 26 Sayı: 1
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1186/s12889-026-27336-x
- Dergi Adı: BMC Public Health
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Public Affairs Index, Directory of Open Access Journals, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Materials Science & Engineering Collection (ProQuest), Technology Collection (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Cognitive flexibility, Community-based study, Disaster preparedness
- Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Background: Effective disaster preparedness is essential for public health. This study examined how sociodemographic factors and cognitive flexibility relate to disaster preparedness among urban community residents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 552 participants in Balikesir. The General Disaster Preparedness Scale (GDPS) was used as the dependent variable, and linear regression analysis explored its predictors. Results: The mean GDPS score was 160.63 ± 19.17, indicating a moderate level of preparedness. Higher preparedness was associated with higher education, prior disaster preparation, knowledge of home valve operations, following disaster-related news, awareness of emergency assembly locations, and higher cognitive flexibility. Cognitive flexibility was a significant independent predictor of disaster preparedness (β = 0.163, p < 0.001). The model explained 25% of the variance in preparedness (Adjusted R² = 0.25). Conclusion: Disaster preparedness was not optimal despite moderate levels. Both practical preparedness behaviors and cognitive flexibility significantly contributed to preparedness. As a modifiable psychological resource, cognitive flexibility represents a promising target for community-based public health interventions aimed at enhancing disaster resilience.