Disaster awareness and strategies to coping with stress among women: The example of Batman province

This study aimed to examine the factors affecting disaster awareness levels and disaster-related stress coping strategies among women living in the province of Batman. The research was designed as a quantitative, cross-sectional study and conducted between 15 March 2024 and 15 July 2024. The study population consisted of women residing in Batman province. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Disaster Awareness Perception Scale, and the Stress Coping Scale. A total of 691 women participated in the study; after outlier and normality analyses, data from 665 participants were included in the analysis. The findings indicated statistically significant differences in disaster education awareness, pre disaster awareness, and false disaster awareness scores according to age. Women aged 26–34 exhibited lower disaster awareness levels compared to older age groups. Analyses based on educational status revealed significant differences across all subdimensions of disaster awareness. Women with lower educational levels scored higher in certain awareness dimensions, while higher levels of false disaster awareness were observed among women with higher educational attainment. Regarding stress coping strategies, no significant differences were found according to age. However, educational status was associated with significant differences in problem-focused coping strategies, whereas avoidance-oriented and social support coping strategies did not vary significantly by education level. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that women‟s disaster awareness and stress coping strategies are influenced by sociodemographic factors, particularly age and educational level. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of effective disaster education programs and psychosocial support interventions aimed at enhancing disaster preparedness among women. Keywords: Disaster, Disaster Awareness, Stress, Coping, Women