Abstract
Flooding, already the most damaging type of natural disaster in China, is expected to become increasingly costly around the world. However, few studies have examined residents’ flood-preparedness intentions and the effect of flood experience and other variables on general financial risk-taking. This study explored the effects of Chinese residents’ previous flood experiences, trust in public flood protection, and flood-risk perception on flood-preparedness intentions and attitudes towards financial risk-taking in general. Study 1 surveyed residents in a flooded area (n = 241) and a non-flooded area (n = 248); Study 2 surveyed a non-flooded area (n = 1599). The relations between the variables were tested through structural-equation modelling (SEM). Overall, the two studies found that residents’ flood experiences, trust in public protection, and flood-risk perception not only predicted their flood preparedness but also their financial risk aversion. This study highlights the importance of residents’ trust in public flood protection for flood risk management and communication, especially for those who have not yet experienced flooding.
Highlights
IntroductionThe economic and human costs of floods have been increasing in recent years due to several factors
Prior flood experiences positively correlated with their flood-risk perceptions and floodpreparedness intentions and negatively correlated with their trust in public flood protection and financial risk-taking
The current findings demonstrate an alternative path between risk perception and risk management, as trust in public protection may be a crucial factor in the context of flood management with regards to preparedness intentions, as well as flood-risk perception [50]
Summary
The economic and human costs of floods have been increasing in recent years due to several factors. Increased urbanization has led to more runoff, less storage capacity, and a greater exposure of population and economic assets to flooding events [1]. Research suggests that economic growth, urbanization, and population increases have led to an increased exposure of individuals and assets to flooding [2]. China is among the nations that have recently suffered the most from flooding [1], few studies have focused on Chinese people’s floodpreparedness behaviors, and even less have addressed the impact of these experiences on financial risk-taking/risk-aversion. The present study addresses this gap by examining the role of past flood experiences, trust, and perceived risk on these important outcomes in China
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