@article {bnh-5616, title = {Australian householders{\textquoteright} psychological preparedness for potential natural hazard threats: An exploration of contributing factors}, journal = {International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction}, year = {2019}, month = {06/2019}, abstract = {

Considerable attention has been given by researchers to householders{\textquoteright} material, or physical, preparedness for impact of a severe natural hazard. Somewhat less attention has been paid to psychological preparedness for such an event. This paper first reviews conceptual formulations of psychological preparedness for disasters, and self-report measures of the construct. Previous research findings about correlates of psychological preparedness are discussed. We report findings from a survey of 1,253 Australian households. Scores on two psychological preparedness subscales (Knowledge and management, Anticipation and awareness) were correlated with scores on a measure of material preparedness. For both women and men, seven factors were found to be associated with both psychological and material preparedness: (a) information awareness about psychological preparedness, (b) previous emergency services training or experience, (c) previous experience of natural hazard threat, (d) higher mindfulness scores, (e) higher active engagement coping style scores, (f) low stress scores, and (g) low depression scores. It was concluded that important issues remain to be addressed about how householder psychological preparedness for disasters is best conceptualised, measured, and modified.

}, keywords = {Coping, disasters, Mindfulness, Natural hazards, Psychological preparedness, Stress}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2019.101203}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420918310690}, author = {Danielle Every and Jim McLennan and Amy Reynolds and Trigg, Josh} } @article {bnh-5097, title = {Animal ownership among vulnerable populations in regional South Australia: implications for natural disaster preparedness and resilience}, journal = {Journal of Public Health Management and Practice}, volume = {23}, year = {2017}, month = {02/2017}, pages = {59-63}, chapter = {59}, abstract = {

Context:\ Few studies have examined the prevalence of\ animal ownership\ among populations likely to be at greater risk from disaster events within a\ bushfire\ context.

Objective:\ To investigate the proportion of vulnerable community members keeping animals and the types of animals kept, as well as perceived risk of harm to pets, and their inclusion in\ bushfire\ survival planning.

Design:\ Statewide anonymous online survey in 2014 of adult South Australian animal owners threatened by\ bushfire\ in January 2014. Respondents were asked about\ animal ownership, their\ bushfire\ risk perception, and household survival planning. Descriptive statistics are presented for 5 groups considered likely to contribute to increased risk of harm for households: linguistically diverse, older adults, families with young children, physically frail, and self-identifying disabled, as well as individuals with mental health considerations.

Setting:\ An opt-in purposively targeted sample of anonymous South Australians living in high fire-risk locations.

Participants:\ Adult South Australian animal owners threatened or directly impacted by\ bushfire\ events, including individuals matching 1 of the 5 vulnerable groups.

Main Outcome Measures:\ Self-reported details of\ animal ownership, perceived fire risk, survival planning, and\ vulnerability\ characteristics.

Results:\ Animal ownership\ was found to be more prevalent in these 5 populations than in the wider South Australian population. Perceived risk to pets was low to moderately low in these individuals. Variation was observed in the role of animals generally and pets specifically as motivators for preparing\ bushfire\ survival plans.

Conclusions:\ Emergency services and associated agencies need to consider how the unique needs of vulnerable populations that keep animals, and their potential differences in risk perception, relate to their\ bushfire\ survival planning and\ preparedness\ requirements.

}, doi = {10.1097/PHH.0000000000000416}, url = {https://insights.ovid.com/crossref?an=00124784-201701000-00009}, author = {Kirrilly Thompson and Trigg, Josh and Bradley P Smith} } @article {bnh-3343, title = {Developing a scale to understand willingness to sacrifice personal safety for companion animals: The Pet-Owner Risk Propensity Scale (PORPS)}, journal = {International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction}, volume = {21}, year = {2017}, month = {03/2017}, pages = {205-212}, chapter = {205}, abstract = {

Multiple factors motivate people to risk their safety for companion animals during disasters. Often, this entails people re-entering dangerous areas, delaying evacuation, and risking personal harm to protect animals. Importantly, the intensity of this behaviour varies between individuals, with the capacity to take risk-mitigating actions also limited by self-efficacy when managing companion animals under threatening conditions. As these two factors have received little attention, this study presents the construction, through principal components analysis, of a stable 24-item multidimensional scale measuring the potential intensity and perceived efficacy of pet-directed actions during disasters: the Pet-Owner Risk Propensity Scale. The initial 64-item pool derived from first-person bushfire accounts of Australian companion-animal owners. Items were then administered to Australian companion-animal owners living in disaster-susceptible locations (n=553). Preliminary findings support its validity, reliability, and utility in understanding companion-animal owners{\textquoteright} risk-taking propensity, which may help predict and avoid harmful outcomes for people and their animals during disasters, both in Australia and elsewhere.

}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2016.12.004}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420916305714}, author = {Trigg, Josh and Bradley P Smith and Bennett, Pauleen and Kirrilly Thompson} } @article {bnh-3435, title = {An animal just like me: the importance of preserving the identities of companion-animal owners in disaster contexts}, journal = {Social and Personality Psychology Compass}, volume = {10}, year = {2016}, month = {01/2016}, pages = {26-40}, chapter = {26}, abstract = {

The widespread tendency of modern-day pet owners to self-identify with their companion animals psychologically, symbolically and relationally demonstrates how the constructed identities of animal and owner are strongly linked. This becomes particularly apparent during natural disasters. In this review, the new concept of the\ pet-owning self\ is discussed in relation to three self-psychology perspectives: self-extension, symbolic interactionism and selfobject relations. We purposefully depart from the realm of attachment theory to argue that these three epistemological approaches to self-identity, although related, warrant closer examination. Although we discuss them in relation to disaster contexts, the concept of the pet-owning self remains widely applicable. We argue for the importance of acknowledging the powerful intersubjectivity inherent to pet keeping, the inseparability of perceived pet identity from owners{\textquoteright} experiences of the self and that preserving the cohesion of the two is an essential consideration for owners{\textquoteright} psychological wellbeing when managing the integrated pet/owner in the face of risks posed by disaster and other hazards. Future research opportunities and implications are then discussed in the context of social identity theory.

}, doi = {10.1111/spc3.12233}, url = {http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/spc3.12233/full}, author = {Trigg, Josh and Kirrilly Thompson and Bradley P Smith and Bennett, Pauleen} } @article {bnh-5082, title = {A moveable beast: subjective influence of human-animal relationships on risk perception and risk behaviour during bushfire threat}, journal = {The Qualitative Report}, volume = {21}, year = {2016}, month = {10/2016}, pages = {1881-1903}, chapter = {1881}, abstract = {

This article examines how human-animal connections influence risk perception and behaviour in companion animal guardians exposed to bushfire threat in Australia. Although the objective role of psychological bonds with companion animals is well accepted by researchers, subjective interpretations of these bonds by animal guardians are relatively underexamined in this context. We argue that the ways in which connections with pets and other animals are represented influences different forms of safety-risk perception and behaviour when managing animals{\textquoteright} safety in the face of disaster threat. Thematic analysis of 21 semi-structured interviews with South Australian residents in bushfire-affected areas supported the role of the human-animal bond in shaping risk perception, and influencing engagement in risk-behaviour. Influential factors included animals{\textquoteright} {\textquotedblleft}life value,{\textquotedblright} {\textquotedblleft}relative versus absolute{\textquotedblright} risk framing, the {\textquotedblleft}constellation of bonds,{\textquotedblright} and {\textquotedblleft}action paralysis{\textquotedblright} when facing threat. Implications for future research in decision-making and risk propensities of animal guardians facing disaster threat alongside their pets are then discussed.

}, url = {https://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol21/iss10/9}, author = {Trigg, Josh and Kirrilly Thompson and Bradley P Smith and Bennett, Pauleen} } @article {bnh-1663, title = {Capturing community experiences: South Australian bushfires January 2014}, number = {052}, year = {2015}, month = {03/2015}, institution = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

Lightning strikes in January 2014 caused a number of significant bushfire events in South Australia that continued into February. Fires in and around Eden Valley, Bangor and Rockleigh provided an opportunity to conduct research into the bushfire risk perceptions, decision-making processes and behaviour of residents across three very different fire events involving a rapid-onset fire (Eden Valley), a long-campaign fire (Bangor), and repeat fire incidents (Rockleigh).

During April and May 2014, 171 residents in affected communities were interviewed and 606 South Australians participated in a complementary online (statewide) survey. Approximately one in two (49\%) survey respondents considered their residential area to have been impacted by fire, and almost one in five (17\%) indicated that they were directly impacted by the fires, and one in five (20\%) experienced fire threat without property damage. The aim of the research was to inform SA Country Fire Service about community members{\textquoteright} experiences of bushfires in South Australia, with particular attention to a range of research questions grouped under the three themes discussed below. The nature of the study has allowed us to provide observations and insights on each one of these themes. However, it should be noted that cause and effect relationships between the factors should not be inferred.

}, isbn = {978-0-9941696-2-4}, issn = {052}, author = {Trigg, Josh and Rainbird, Sophia and Kirrilly Thompson and Christopher Bearman and Wright, Lyndsey and Jim McLennan} } @article {bnh-2565, title = {Does emotional closeness to pets motivate their inclusion in bushfire survival plans? Implications for emergency communicators}, journal = {Australian Journal of Emergency Management}, volume = {30}, year = {2015}, abstract = {

As pet ownership influences responses to the threat of bushfire, current preparedness communication acknowledges the pet-owner relationship as a key reason for including pets in emergency plans. However, not all pet-owner relationships are the same. Some people are physically and emotionally {\textquoteleft}closer{\textquoteright} to their pets than are others, a difference that could impact survival plan intentions. This South Australian study examines how differences in pet-owner closeness affects owners{\textquoteright} views of pets as a motivator for plan creation and of pet inclusion in planning across four survival-plan intention types: {\textquoteleft}stay and defend{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}split the household{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}wait and decide{\textquoteright}, and {\textquoteleft}leave early{\textquoteright}. Of several pet-owner closeness indicators, family membership of pets and anticipated separation distress influenced whether pets were considered a motivator and were included in plans.\ 
Intention-specific recommendations for creating motivating communications based on these effects are resented for emergency services communicators.

}, url = {https://ajem.infoservices.com.au/items/AJEM-30-02-06}, author = {Trigg, Josh and Bradley P Smith and Kirrilly Thompson} }