Disaster Risk Perception and Individual Resilience Among University Students: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach from Türkiye

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ABSTRACT Considering the increasing frequency and severity of disasters, improving individual resilience has become a critical priority. This study examines the multidimensional relationship between disaster risk perception and individual disaster resilience among undergraduate students in Türkiye using a convenience sample drawn from a single faculty, therefore, the findings cannot be generalized to the wider university student population. A cross‐sectional survey was conducted with 995 undergraduate students in Türkiye. Data collection was conducted using the Disaster Risk Perception Scale and the Individual Disaster Resilience Scale. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was performed using R for data analysis. The findings revealed that disaster risk perception and individual resilience levels were generally moderate among participants, with significant variation across some socio‐demographic groups. Exposure and manageable anxiety were positively associated with knowledge‐based and informational coping capacities. In contrast, excessive anxiety and perceptions of uncontrollability were negatively associated with communal and affective coping, while perceptions of effect were positively associated with communal coping. All associations were noncausal owing to the cross‐sectional design. These findings suggest that disaster education and preparedness programs may help strengthen individuals' perceptions of self‐efficacy and controllability while promoting a balanced level of risk awareness. The dual role of anxiety in shaping resilience emphasizes the need to address emotional responses in disaster risk communication. This study extends crisis management and disaster resilience literature by empirically investigating the multidimensional relationship between disaster risk perception and individual disaster resilience within a single structural model, highlighting an understudied university student population in Türkiye.