AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PREPAREDNESS AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

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The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between disaster preparedness and psychological preparedness among university students. The study was conducted using a correlational survey design. The sample consisted of 301 university students enrolled in the 2023–2024 academic year. Data were collected using the Disaster Preparedness Scale, the Psychological Preparedness Scale for Disaster Threats, and a Personal Information Form. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient, and simple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The results of the correlation analysis indicated that disaster preparedness was significantly and positively associated with both the total score and the subdimensions of the psychological preparedness scale (knowledge and management of the external situational environment, management of emotional/psychological response, and management of the social environment). Furthermore, the regression analysis revealed that disaster preparedness significantly predicted the total score and all subdimensions of psychological preparedness. The findings indicate that as university students’ disaster preparedness levels increase, their psychological preparedness also increases significantly. This result supports the notion that enhancing knowledge, awareness, and planning skills related to disasters strengthens individuals’ emotional resilience, cognitive readiness, and social adjustment during disasters. Therefore, it is recommended that intervention and education programs aiming to improve university students’ psychological preparedness should primarily focus on strengthening their disaster preparedness skills.