Media exposure to climate change information and pro-environmental behavior: the role of climate change risk judgment.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between exposure to climate change information in traditional and modern media, cognitive and emotional aspects of climate change risk judgment, and pro-environmental behavior (PEB). METHOD: A cross-sectional online study was conducted on a quota sample of 1,075 participants (51.9% women) aged 18-79 years. Participants self-reported their exposure to climate change-related information in traditional (e.g. television) and modern media (e.g. social networks), cognitive assessment of climate change risk, level of worry about climate change, and the frequency of PEB. RESULTS: Structural equation modeling showed a good fit for the parallel mediation model, involving cognitive risk judgment and worry as mediators between exposure to climate change information in traditional and modern media and PEB. Exposure to climate change information in traditional media had indirect effect on PEB through heightened worry, but not cognitive risk judgment. In contrast, exposure to climate change information in modern media had no indirect effect on PEB. CONCLUSION: Since the link between exposure to climate change information in traditional media and PEB has been shown to be mediated by climate change worry, it is important to enhance the coverage of climate change in traditional media in Croatia, taking care to offer solutions to reduce possible negative impact on people's well-being.

Resource loss, coping strategies and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in survivors of the 2020 Croatia earthquake.

BACKGROUND: Conservation of resources theory (COR) establishes a link between resource loss and the stress response. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of resource loss in the form of home damage and the choice of active or passive coping strategies to PTSD symptoms in survivors of the 2020 Petrinja (Croatia) earthquake. METHODS: A total of 374 adults (29.9% men) aged 18-64 years living in the counties surrounding the epicenter of the Petrinja (Croatia) earthquake participated in an online cross-sectional survey. The questionnaire included the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Coping Inventory, and the binary item assessing whether or not the participants' home was damaged. RESULTS: Hierarchical regression analysis showed that home damage was a significant predictor of PTSD symptoms. Participants whose homes were damaged by the earthquake were significantly more likely to use passive coping strategies, namely avoidance and emotional venting, and one active coping strategy, action, than those whose homes were spared. Finally, more frequent use of passive coping was associated with a higher risk of PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The study corroborates the COR theory link between resource loss and the stress response, as well as the general consensus that passive coping is a less adaptive strategy than active coping. In addition to passive coping, individuals who lacked resources may have been inclined to take some active steps because they either needed to repair or relocate their homes and because most buildings were only moderately to minimally damaged in the Petrinja earthquake.

Predicting earthquake preparedness intention among Croatian residents: Application of the theory of planned behaviour.

After several earthquakes occurred in Croatia in 2020, it became clear that the country's inhabitants were not prepared for seismic hazards. The aim of this study was to investigate what factors determine intention to prepare for earthquakes, based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 374 participants (70.1% women) aged 18-64 years. Participants self-reported their attitudes toward earthquake preparedness, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and intention to prepare for an earthquake. Structural equation modelling showed that stronger intention to prepare for an earthquake was predicted by more positive attitudes toward earthquake preparedness and by more supportive subjective norms relating to earthquake preparedness. In contrast, perceived behavioural control was not associated with intention to prepare for an earthquake, nor did it moderate the association of attitudes or subjective norms with such intention. These results suggest that attitudes and subjective norms relating to earthquake preparedness are important factors that should be considered in future programmes to improve earthquake preparedness in the Croatian population.