Hostname: page-component-6bb9c88b65-2jdt9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-07-22T10:28:03.766Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2025

Fatma Gündüz Zeybekoğlu
Affiliation:
Department of Property Protection and Security, Boyabat Vocational School of Higher Education, https://ror.org/004ah3r71 Sinop University , Sinop, Türkiye
Galip Usta
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Services and Techniques, Tonya Vocational School of Higher Education, https://ror.org/04mmwq306 Trabzon University , Trabzon, Türkiye
Ezgi Atalay
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Services and Techniques, Mehmet Tanrikulu Vocational School of Health Service, https://ror.org/01x1kqx83 Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University , Bolu, Türkiye
Kemal Torpuş*
Affiliation:
Emergency Aid and Disaster Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, https://ror.org/02wcpmn42 Artvin Coruh University , Artvin, Türkiye
*
Corresponding author: Kemal Torpuş; Email: kemaltorpus@artvin.edu.tr

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.

Information

Type
Original Research
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Varol, N, Gültekin, T. Afet antropolojisi. Elektronik Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi. 2016;15(59):14311436.10.17755/esosder.263244CrossRefGoogle Scholar
AFAD. Açıklamalı afet yönetimi terimleri sözlüğü. Published Accessed 11 December 2024. https://www.afad.gov.tr/kurumlar/afad.gov.tr/3495/xfiles/sozluk.pdf.Google Scholar
Quarantelli, EL. What is a disaster?: A dozen perspectives on the question. What is a Disaster?: A Dozen Perspectives on the Question. 2005:36Google Scholar
Cutter, S. Hazards Vulnerability and Environmental Justice. Routledge; 2012:717310.4324/9781849771542CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomas, DS, Mitchell, JT, Scott, MS, et al. Developing a digital atlas of environmental risks and hazards. J Geograph. 1999;98(5):201207.10.1080/00221349908978886CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Quarantelli, EL. Disasters and catastrophes: Their conditions in and consequences for social development. Preliminary Paper #197. Newark, Delaware: Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware. 1993:35.Google Scholar
Gündüz, F. A phenomenological study on women’s disaster experience in Türkiye. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct. 2024;100:104196.10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.104196CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thurairajah, N, Haigh, R, Thurairajah, N, et al. Post disaster reconstruction as an opportunity for development: women’s perspective. In: CIB W89 International Conference on Building Education and research (BEAR), 11-15th February 2008, Sri Lanka. 2008:1115.Google Scholar
Neumayer, E, American, TP. The gendered nature of natural disasters: the impact of catastrophic events on the gender gap in life expectancy, 1981–2002. Ann Assoc Am Geographr. 2007;97(3):551566.10.1111/j.1467-8306.2007.00563.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hemachandra, K, Amaratunga, D, Haigh, R. Role of women in disaster risk governance. Procedia Eng. 2018;212:11871194.10.1016/j.proeng.2018.01.153CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ikeda, K. Gender differences in human loss and vulnerability in natural disasters: a case study from Bangladesh. Indian J Gend Stud. 1995;2(2):171193.10.1177/097152159500200202CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Enarson, E, Meyreles, L. International perspectives on gender and disaster: differences and possibilities. Int J Sociol Soc Pol. 2004;24(10–11):4993.10.1108/01443330410791064CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clissold, R, Westoby, R, McNamara, KE. Women as recovery enablers in the face of disasters in Vanuatu. Geoforum. 2020;113:101110.10.1016/j.geoforum.2020.05.003CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smyth, I, Sweetman, C. Introduction: gender and resilience. Gend Dev. 2015;23(3):405414.10.1080/13552074.2015.1113769CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wood, W, Eagly, AH. Biosocial construction of sex differences and similarities in behavior. Adv Exp Soc Psychol. 2012;46:55123.10.1016/B978-0-12-394281-4.00002-7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sandmeyer, L, Kohn, P, Driscoll, JB, et al. A Program for Optimizing Women’s Leadership Skills (OWLS). 1977:1519.Google Scholar
Ruducha, J, Hariharan, D, Potter, J, et al. Measuring coordination between women’s self-help groups and local health systems in rural India: a social network analysis. BMJ Open. 2019;9(8):28943.10.1136/bmjopen-2019-028943CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Işık, Ö, Özer, N, Sayın, N, et al. Are women in Turkey both risks and resources in disaster management? Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2015;12(6):57585774.10.3390/ijerph120605758CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brody, C, De Hoop, T, Vojtkova, M, et al. Can self-help group programs improve women’s empowerment? A systematic review. J Dev Effect. 2016;9(1):1540.10.1080/19439342.2016.1206607CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Batool, SA, Batool, SS. Construction and validation of Global Psychological Empowerment Scale for Women. Pak J Soc Clin Psychol. 2018;15(1):310.Google Scholar
Cerna, C, Wallace, J. Women and culture. Women Int Human Rights Law. 2000:623624.10.1163/9789004531116_022CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chandra Mandal, K. International forum of teaching and studies concept and types of women empowerment. Int Forum Teach Stud. 2013;9(2):1730.Google Scholar
Diener, E, Biswas-Diener, R. Psychological empowerment and subjective well-being. PsycEXTRA Dataset. 2005:125140.10.1037/e597202012-007CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hibbs, L. “I could do that!”– The role of a women’s non-governmental organisation in increasing women’s psychological empowerment and civic participation in Wales. Womens Stud Int Forum. 2022;90.Google Scholar
Yıldırım, F, Gül, H. Uluslararası kalkınma politikaları ve kadınların güçlendirilmesi üzerine bir değerlendirme. MANAS Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi. 2021;10(1):679695.10.33206/mjss.760005CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mahato, T, Jha, MK, Nayak, AK, et al. Empowerment of women through participation in self-help groups: a bibliometric analysis and systematic review. J Enterp Communities. 2023;17(6):15111538.10.1108/JEC-08-2022-0114CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bonanno, GA, Galea, S, Bucciarelli, A, et al. What predicts psychological resilience after disaster? The role of demographics, resources, and life stress. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2007;75(5):671682.10.1037/0022-006X.75.5.671CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bhat, RA. Role of education in the empowerment of women in India. J Educ Pract. 2015;6(10):188191.Google Scholar
Yılmaz, M. Kadınlarda psikolojik güçlülük ve güçlenmesi gereken alanların belirlenmesi. Master’s thesis, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Türkiye 2024:2326.Google Scholar
Francina, PX, Joseph, MV. Women empowerment: the psychological dimension. Rajagiri J Soc Devel. 2013;5(2):6174.Google Scholar
Bronfman, NC, Cisternas, PC, López-Vázquez, E, et al. Trust and risk perception of natural hazards: implications for risk preparedness in Chile. Nat Hazards. 2016;81(1):307327.10.1007/s11069-015-2080-4CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Usta, G. Dünya’ da meydana gelen afetlerin istatistiksel olarak analizi (1900-2022). Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi. 2023;14(1):172186.Google Scholar
Moreno, J, Shaw, D. Women’s empowerment following disaster: a longitudinal study of social change. Nat Hazards. 2018;92(1):205224.10.1007/s11069-018-3204-4CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Emery, C, Booth, JE, Michaelides, G, et al. The importance of being psychologically empowered: buffering the negative effects of employee perceptions of leader–member exchange differentiation. J Occup Organ Psychol. 2019;92(3):566592.10.1111/joop.12266CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ma, Z, Zhou, W, Deng, X, et al. Community disaster resilience and risk perception in earthquake-stricken areas of China. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2022;17(e74).Google ScholarPubMed
UNDRR. Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. 2015:2128.Google Scholar
Gündüz, F. Afetlerde kadın ve toplumsal cinsiyet perspektifi ile çıkarılması gereken dersler (Haiti ve Japonya depremi örneği). IBAD Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi. 2022;(12):440460.10.21733/ibad.1039215CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bradshaw, S. Engendering development and disasters. Disasters. 2015;39(1):5475.10.1111/disa.12111CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Malhotra, NK. Marketing Research an Applied Orientation. 4. Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall; 2004:410414.Google Scholar
Faul, F, Erdfelder, E, Buchner, A, et al. Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1: tests for correlation and regression analyses. Behavior Research Methods. 2009;41(4):11491160.10.3758/BRM.41.4.1149CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bozkur, B. Kadın psikolojik güç ölçeği: Ölçek geliştirme çalışması. Fe Dergi. 2020;12(2):1531.10.46655/federgi.842833CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Çelik, İH, Kılıç, T. Disaster risk perception regarding culture and personality. Dumlupınar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi. 2023;77:157172.10.51290/dpusbe.1264460CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mallery, P, George, D. SPSS for Windows Step BysStep: A Simple Guide and Reference. Taylor & Francis: Abingdon; 2016:222.Google Scholar
Domingues, RB, de Jesus, SN, Ferreira, Ó. Place attachment, risk perception, and preparedness in a population exposed to coastal hazards: a case study in Faro Beach, southern Portugal. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct. 2021;60:102288.10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102288CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vitek, JD, Berta, SM. Improving perception of and response to natural hazards: the need for local education. J Geograph. 1982;81(6):225228.10.1080/00221348208980740CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lima, ML, Barnett, J, Vala, J. Risk perception and technological development at a societal level. Risk Anal. 2005;25(5):12291239.10.1111/j.1539-6924.2005.00664.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fernandez, G, Tun, AM, Okazaki, K, et al. Factors influencing fire, earthquake, and cyclone risk perception in Yangon, Myanmar. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct. 2018;28:140149.10.1016/j.ijdrr.2018.02.028CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sjöberg, L. Distal factors in risk perception. J Risk Res. 2003;6(3):187211.10.1080/1366987032000088847CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kung, Y, Chen, S. Perception of earthquake risk in Taiwan: effects of gender and past earthquake experience. Risk Anal Int J. 2012;32(9):15351546.10.1111/j.1539-6924.2011.01760.xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Terpstra, T. Emotions, trust, and perceived risk: affective and cognitive routes to flood preparedness behavior. Risk Anal. 2011;31(10):16581675.10.1111/j.1539-6924.2011.01616.xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Aksa, FI, Utaya, S, Bachri, S, et al. The role of knowledge and fatalism in college students related to the earthquake-risk perception. Jàmbá J Disaster Risk Stud. 2020;12(1):16.10.4102/jamba.v12i1.954CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kusenbach, M. People like me: multiple belongings among senior mobile home residents in Florida. Contested Belonging: Spaces, Practices, Biographies. 2018:4366.Google Scholar
Baytiyeh, H, Naja, M. The effects of fatalism and denial on earthquake preparedness levels. Disaster Prev Manag. 2016;25(2):154167.10.1108/DPM-07-2015-0168CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gierlach, E, Belsher, BE, Beutler, LE. Cross-cultural differences in risk perceptions of disasters. Risk Anal Int J. 2010;30(10):15391549.10.1111/j.1539-6924.2010.01451.xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pathirage, C, Seneviratne, K, Amaratunga, D, et al. Managing disaster knowledge: identification of knowledge factors and challenges. Int J Disaster Resil Built Environ. 2012;3(3):237252.10.1108/17595901211263620CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yari, A, Zarezadeh, Y, Ostadtaghizadeh, A. Prevalence of fatalistic attitudes toward earthquake disaster risk management in citizens of Tehran, Iran. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct. 2019;38:101181.10.1016/j.ijdrr.2019.101181CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lindell, M, Perry, R. Behavioral Foundations of Community Emergency Planning. Hemisphere Publishing Corp. 1992:163164.Google Scholar
Marceron, JE, Rohrbeck, CA. Disability and disasters: the role of self-efficacy in emergency preparedness. Psychol Health Med. 2019;24(1):8393.10.1080/13548506.2018.1492730CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Roder, G, Ruljigaljig, T, Lin, CW, et al. Natural hazards knowledge and risk perception of Wujie indigenous community in Taiwan. Nat Hazards. 2016;81(1):641662.10.1007/s11069-015-2100-4CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lindell, MK, Whitney, DJ. Correlates of household seismic hazard adjustment adoption. Risk Anal. 2000;20(1):1326.10.1111/0272-4332.00002CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cvetković, VM, Öcal, A, Ivanov, A. Young adults’ fear of disasters: a case study of residents from Turkey, Serbia and Macedonia. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct. 2019;35(February).10.1016/j.ijdrr.2019.101095CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rodriguez-Llanes, JM, Vos, F, Guha-Sapir, D. Measuring psychological resilience to disasters: Are evidence-based indicators an achievable goal? Environ Health. 2013;12(1):110.10.1186/1476-069X-12-115CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Öztekin, GG, Örki, H. Effects of depression, anxiety, and stress on disaster preparedness: Evidence from the February 6 Türkiye earthquakes. J Disaster Risk. 2023;6(4):13321347.Google Scholar
Killgore, WDS, Taylor, EC, Cloonan, SA, et al. Psychological resilience during the COVID-19 lockdown. Psychiatry Res. 2020;291.Google ScholarPubMed
Nishimi, K, Tan, J, Scoglio, A, et al. Psychological resilience to trauma and risk of COVID-19 infection and somatic symptoms across 2 years. Psychosom Med. 2023;85(6):488497.10.1097/PSY.0000000000001215CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Altınova, H, Adıgüzel, Ö. Yaratıcı drama yönteminin kadınların cinsiyet rolü bilincine etkililiği. Toplum ve Sosyal Hizmet. 2014;25(1):3560.Google Scholar
Xi, Y, Yu, H, Yao, Y, et al. Post-traumatic stress disorder and the role of resilience, social support, anxiety and depression after the Jiuzhaigou earthquake: a structural equation model. Asian J Psychiatr. 2020;49:101958.10.1016/j.ajp.2020.101958CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tercan, B. Bireylerin afet risk algısının çeşitli değişkenler açısından değerlendirilmesi. Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. 2023;12(3):12791287.10.37989/gumussagbil.1180447CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mızrak, S, Aslan, R. Disaster risk perception of university students. Risk Hazards Crisis Public Policy. 2020;11(4):411433.10.1002/rhc3.12202CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ayvazoğlu, G, Çekiç, M, Yücel, H. Hatay Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi öğrencilerinin afet risk algısı ve afete hazırlık durumlarının değerlendirilmesi. Sosyal Bilimler Elektronik Dergisi. 2020;4(7):8596.Google Scholar
Lindell, MK, Hwang, SN. Households’ perceived personal risk and responses in a multihazard environment. Risk Analysis. 2008;28(2):539556.10.1111/j.1539-6924.2008.01032.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shrestha, SR, Sliuzas, R, Kuffer, M. Open spaces and risk perception in post-earthquake Kathmandu city. App Geogr. 2018;93:8191.10.1016/j.apgeog.2018.02.016CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gökçay, G, Çevirme, A, Küçük, , et al. The relationship between earthquake risk perceptions, religious orientation, spiritual well-being in individuals with and without earthquake experience: A cross-sectional study. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):113.10.1038/s41598-024-56641-xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Drolet, J, Dominelli, L, Alston, M, et al. Women rebuilding lives post-disaster: Innovative community practices for building resilience and promoting sustainable development. Gend Dev. 2015;23(3):433448.10.1080/13552074.2015.1096040CrossRefGoogle Scholar