Abstract
This paper presents the results of quantitative research regarding the level and the causes of fear of disasters among young adults in Turkey, Serbia, and Macedonia. The survey was conducted using a questionnaire that was given and then collected hand by hand that explored in depth the disaster-related fears among 537 respondents during 2016. The questionnaire explored students’ basic demographics and their level of fear, as well as the causes and sources of fear. Across the three countries, the results indicated an excessive level of fear both of earthquakes and of epidemics. In addition, participants reported that they were particularly afraid for their personal lives and, to a greater extent, for the health of their parents. Experiences with bad weather conditions, pictures of the consequences of disasters, and past disaster experience were found to exacerbate fear. It was also found that females were more afraid, with a possible socio-cultural-laden link to an ethos of protection versus participation. Findings can be used to create focused strategies at a national level intended to reduce excess fear of disasters and facilitate a more prepared public through policy and education programme development.
Highlights
By definition, fear is an emotion experienced in anticipation of some threat or danger
Serbia and Macedonia are landlocked countries situated in south-eastern Europe in the centre of the Balkan Peninsula between 40° 35′ and 46° 11′ latitude North, and Turkey is located 36° 42′ latitude North in south-eastern Europe and south-western Asia; in general, they are located at very close geographical coordinates (Fig. 1)
The study was conducted with university students who were from the departments of Security and Geography (Serbia), Social Studies Education (Turkey), and Security (Macedonia)
Summary
Fear is an emotion experienced in anticipation of some threat or danger This word is generally associated with negative feelings, such as powerlessness and helplessness, that people might experience when think about a possible risky situation [1]. Examples here include burglaries and fear of security in shelters [2], being exposed to post-disaster violence [3], eviction [4], forced migration [5], delayed warning information [6], and facing discrimination and hostility in evacuation sites [7] All these types of risk-related emotions can affect individual cognitions about sources of risk and the promptness and capacity with which they can react [8]. The purpose of this research was to examine fear of disasters among university students in Serbia (Belgrade), Turkey (Ankara, Aksaray, Kırıkkale, Kırşehir), and Macedonia (Skopje) about a set of disasters
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