Disaster Preparedness and Resiliency Among Vocational College Students in Hunan, China: A Quantitative Assessment

Jie He

doi:10.62051/ijnres.v6n1.14

Authors

Jie He

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62051/ijnres.v6n1.14

Keywords:

Culture of Preparedness, Disaster Resiliency, Vocational Education, College Students, Hunan Province.

Abstract

This study examined the culture of preparedness and disaster resiliency among college students in a vocational college in Hunan Province, China. It aimed to assess students' levels of disaster resilience and preparedness culture to inform the development of targeted interventions and educational programs that enhance safety and mitigate the impact of future disasters on this vulnerable population. The study involved 384 college students enrolled in a vocational college in Hunan Province. Data were collected using a self-constructed questionnaire specifically designed to address the study’s objectives. The findings revealed that the majority of respondents were young male students from Generation Z, aged 19 to 22, predominantly in their first year of study and majoring in Fire Protection Information and Security. Results indicated a generally positive culture of preparedness, characterized by shared awareness and understanding, proactive engagement, supportive environments, community building and resilience, and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement. Regarding disaster resiliency, students exhibited strong agreement across psychological, social, cognitive, and adaptability/resourcefulness domains. Significant differences were observed in both preparedness culture and disaster resiliency when grouped by age. However, no significant differences were found when grouped by sex. Analysis by academic year level revealed significant differences in preparedness culture, while both preparedness culture and disaster resiliency varied significantly when grouped by academic program or major. Based on the results, an action plan was proposed to enhance the culture of preparedness and disaster resiliency among vocational college students.

References

[1] United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030. UNDRR, 2015.

[2] Xu, W., & Chen, H. (2019). Disaster risk in China’s Yangtze River Basin. Asian Journal of Disaster Studies, 6(2), 88–95.

[3] United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (2017). Education for Sustainable Development Goals: Learning Objectives.

[4] Li, J., & Zhang, Y. (2022). Disaster risk education in vocational colleges: A review. Journal of Safety and Education, 14(3), 112– 121.

[5] Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (4th ed.). SAGE.

[6] George, D., & Mallery, P. (2003). SPSS for Windows Step by Step: A Simple Guide and Reference (4th ed.). Allyn & Bacon.

[7] Wang, F., & Zhao, L. (2020). Vocational training and employment outcomes in China. China Labor Review, 8(1), 33–47.

[8] Amri, M., & Yulianti, R. (2021). Institutional influence on disaster preparedness among students. International Journal of Safety and Resilience, 7(1), 23–30.

[9] Chen, Y., Liu, Q., & Lin, X. (2023). Psychological preparedness and stress among Chinese vocational students. Journal of College Health, 71(2), 165–174.

[10] Hayes, C., & Barrett, B. (2021). Resilience through reflection: Learning from past disasters. Disaster Studies Journal, 10(4), 201– 215.

[11] Li, Q., et al. (2020). Cognitive development and disaster response behavior among youth. Developmental Psychology Reports, 5(2), 100– 110.

[12] Rahman, S., et al. (2021). Gender-neutral trends in disaster preparedness among Chinese youth. Asian Journal of Public Health, 9(3), 211–220.

[13] Beutel, M., et al. (2020). Educational trajectories and preparedness. Education and Disaster Resilience, 12(1), 33–49.

[14] Karanci, N., et al. (2020). Discipline- specific disaster training and student perceptions. International Journal of Disaster Education, 6(2), 44–55.