Societal Influences on Earthquake Information Meaning-Making and Household Preparedness1
August 2014 (VOL. 32, NO. 2)
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Previous research has identified a diversity of personal and individual factors that
influence household preparedness for earthquakes. However, societal influences on the
preparedness process are less well studied. In particular, there is limited understanding
of the impact that wider society has on people’s interpretation of earthquake and
preparedness information, and how this relates to people’s decisions about getting
prepared for earthquakes. To address this gap, a New Zealand-based project was
initiated to investigate how social factors interact with individuals’ meaning-making of
earthquake information and how this affects subsequent earthquake preparedness
behaviour. A range of social factors were identified as being influential on the meaningmaking
and preparedness process, including community (community participation, sense
of community); leadership; responsibility (responsibility for preparing, responsibility for
others); social norms; trust; and societal requirements.