The Effects of Nursing Students' Disaster Risk Perception on Disaster Literacy: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis

Disaster risk perception and disaster literacy are important factors associated with individuals' preparedness in disaster-prone societies. Nursing students, as future healthcare professionals, play a critical role in disaster management; however, research on the relationship between these variables remains limited. This study examined the relationship between disaster risk perception and disaster literacy among nursing students using a cross-sectional correlational design. Data were collected using the Disaster Risk Perception Scale and the Disaster Literacy Scale, and structural equation modeling was applied. Disaster risk perception was represented by the dimensions of impact, exposure, anxiety, and uncontrollability. Among these subdimensions, impact had the highest mean score, whereas anxiety had the lowest. The results indicated that disaster risk perception was negatively associated with disaster literacy (β = -0.182). These findings suggest that higher levels of perceived risk are related to lower disaster literacy. Strengthening disaster literacy through targeted education and integrating it into nursing curricula and health policy may help support more balanced risk perceptions and improve disaster preparedness.