Disaster literacy levels: A study on sports sciences faculty students in earthquake zone

DISASTER LITERACY LEVELS: A STUDY ON SPORTS SCIENCES FACULTY STUDENTS IN EARTHQUAKE ZONE In recent years, disasters have been occurring with greater frequency and intensity across various regions, profoundly impacting humanity, the environment, and all living beings. The effects of these disasters can be alleviated through proactive preparedness, timely interventions during the events, and efficient recovery efforts afterward. In times of crisis, there is an urgent need for support in multiple areas, and the contributions of physically capable and resilient individuals are critical in meeting the needs of those affected. Students in Faculties of Sports Sciences, due to their intensive training and active lifestyles, are typically strong, fit, and resilient. This study seeks to evaluate the disaster literacy levels of Sports Sciences students from a comprehensive, multidimensional perspective and to provide detailed insights on the topic. Additionally, the research aims to increase awareness of disaster literacy and offer strategic recommendations to enhance disaster preparedness among students from other faculties. The study adopted a relational screening model, a quantitative research approach. Based on population and sampling calculations, it was determined that a minimum of 366 students needed to be surveyed from a total of 7722 Sports Sciences students in the region impacted by the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes on February 6, 2023. The researcher successfully collected responses from 376 students. For data collection, a personal information form and the "Disaster Literacy Scale" (DLS), comprising 61 items, were used to measure students' disaster literacy levels. After digitizing the data, parametric tests were performed following normality analysis. The findings were organized into statistical tables and analyzed in accordance with the study's objectives. The results revealed that the participants' average DLS scores were in the "insufficient" range (X̄ = 28.34 on a 0–50 scale). Male students (X̄ = 29.13) scored significantly higher than female students (X̄ = 27.48), with this difference being statistically significant (p < 0.05). Furthermore, students with prior disaster experience had higher average scores, indicating that such experiences positively affect disaster literacy. However, all four sub-dimensions of disaster literacy—mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery—were found to be at insufficient levels. This study is significant for addressing gaps in the existing literature and contributing to its advancement. Given the low disaster literacy levels observed among Sports Sciences students, it is reasonable to infer that students from other faculties may exhibit similar shortcomings. In a disaster-prone country like Türkiye, initiating awareness campaigns starting with university students is essential to bolster overall societal resilience. Keywords: Disaster, Disaster Literacy, Earthquake, Sports Sciences