The Interplay between School Preparedness and Student’s Individual Protective Actions: The Mediating Role of Disaster Education

Abstract

Disaster preparedness serves as a pivotal strategy to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Empowering children and youth in disaster risk reduction through the education system not only enhances present resilience, but also augments future sustainability. This study investigates the mediating role of disaster education between school preparedness and student preparedness, using data from a survey conducted in China, encompassing a substantial sample size of 3675. Employing multiple linear regressions and the Sobel–Goodman tests, the study estimates correlations while controlling for essential confounding variables, such as socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. The results reveal that both school preparedness and disaster education are positively correlated with higher levels of student preparedness. Notably, disaster education plays a mediating role between school preparedness and student preparedness. These findings underscore the paramount importance of seamlessly integrating effective school preparedness and disaster education initiatives, equipping students to confidently navigate potential disasters and emergencies.