This study examines whether disaster experience and awareness, mediated by external locus of control, influence disaster preparedness behavior. Data were collected from 300 people in flood-prone and a further 300 in heat-wave affected areas in Orissa (a state situated in south-eastern part of India). Results reveal that prior experience of hazard events and knowledge of protective actions significantly facilitates flood and heat-wave preparedness. However, locus of control mediates this relationship. Disaster experienced and aware people characterised by having an external control were less prepared. External control partially mediates between experience–behaviour and information–action link. These findings suggest that the effects of personal experience and awareness on self-protective behaviour are weakened by external attribution.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	locus of control, disaster experience, disaster education, preparedness, Orissa/India
Research Division:	Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
Research Group:	Psychology
Research Field:	Social and Community Psychology
Objective Division:	Cultural Understanding
Objective Group:	Other Cultural Understanding
Objective Field:	Cultural Understanding not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Paton, D (Professor Douglas Paton)
ID Code:	60060
Year Published:	2009
Web of Science® Times Cited:	8
Deposited By:	Psychology
Deposited On:	2010-01-08
Last Modified:	2015-03-05
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