Social Networks, Trust, and Disaster-Risk Perceptions of Rural Residents in a Multi-Disaster Environment: Evidence from Sichuan, China.

Kaijing Xue,Shaoquan Liu,Shili Guo,Dingde Xu,Yi Liu

doi:10.3390/ijerph18042106

Abstract

Individual perception of disaster risk is not only the product of individual factors, but also the product of social interactions. However, few studies have empirically explored the correlations between rural residents’ flat social networks, trust in pyramidal channels, and disaster-risk perceptions. Taking Sichuan Province—a typical disaster-prone province in China—as an example and using data from 327 rural households in mountainous areas threatened by multiple disasters, this paper measured the level of participants’ disaster-risk perception in the four dimensions of possibility, threat, self-efficacy, and response efficacy. Then, the ordinary least squares method was applied to probe the correlations between social networks, trust, and residents’ disaster-risk perception. The results revealed four main findings. (1) Compared with scores relating to comprehensive disaster-risk perception, participants had lower perception scores relating to possibility and threat, and higher perception scores relating to self-efficacy and response efficacy. (2) The carrier characteristics of their social networks significantly affected rural residents’ perceived levels of disaster risk, while the background characteristics did not. (3) Different dimensions of trust had distinct effects on rural residents’ disaster-risk perceptions. (4) Compared with social network variables, trust was more closely related to the perceived level of disaster risks, which was especially reflected in the impact on self-efficacy, response efficacy, and comprehensive perception. The findings of this study deepen understanding of the relationship between social networks, trust, and disaster-risk perceptions of rural residents in mountainous areas threatened by multiple disasters, providing enlightenment for building resilient disaster-prevention systems in the community.

Highlights

Natural disasters are events in which natural changes exceed what can be borne by humans, thereby causing harm to human society and the economy [1]
Relating to the dependent-variable indicators, the first model was the estimated result that only incorporated control variables, the second model estimated the result from addition of social network variables to the first model, and the third model estimated the result from addition of trust variables to the second model
Compared with social network variables, trust variables were more closely related to the perceived level of disaster risk, which was especially reflected in its impact on self-efficacy, response efficacy, and comprehensive perception

Summary

Introduction

Natural disasters are events in which natural changes exceed what can be borne by humans, thereby causing harm to human society and the economy [1]. Natural disasters mainly include geophysical disasters—such as earthquakes and volcanoes—and disasters caused by weather or climate—such as floods, storms, and landslides. With changes in global climate and increases in the scope and intensity of human activities, the frequency and degree of harm of various natural disasters have risen significantly, which has had far-reaching impacts on global economic and social development. 1900 natural disasters displaced 24.9 million people in 140 countries and regions, causing an estimated 137 billion dollars in economic losses according to the Internal Displacement. Monitoring Centre and the Swiss Re Institute [2,3].

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion