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Adaptation of the Disaster Literacy Scale to Individuals Aged 60 Years and Older and Exploring its Psychometric Properties

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2025

Aysun Güzel Open the ORCID record for Aysun Güzel [Opens in a new window]
Aysun Güzel*
Affiliation:
Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Emergency Aid and Disaster Management, Burdur, Turkey
*
Corresponding author: Aysun Güzel; Email: ayurdakul@mehmetakif.edu.tr
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Abstract

Objectives

This methodological study aimed to adapt the DLS, introduced for individuals aged 18-60 years, to those aged 60 years and older and to determine its psychometric properties.

Methods

We collected the data between December 15, 2021 and April 18, 2022. We carried out the study with a sample of 60 years and older living in the city center of Burdur, Turkey. The sample was selected using snowball sampling, a non-probability sampling technique. We collected the data using a questionnaire booklet covering an 11-item demographic information form and the DLS. We utilized reliability and validity analyses in the data analysis. The analyses were performed on SPSS 23.0, and a P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The mean age of the participants was found to be 68.29 (SD = 6.36). The 61-item measurement tool was reduced to 57 items by removing a total of 4 items from the scale. We also calculated Cronbach’s α values to be 0.936 for the mitigation/prevention subscale, 0.935 for the preparedness subscale, 0.939 for the response subscale, and 0.945 for the recovery/rehabilitation subscale.

Conclusions

As adapted in this study, the DLS-S can be validly and reliably used for individuals aged 60 years and older.

Keywords

ageddisastersliteracynatural disasterspsychometricsTurkey
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 18 , 2024 , e330
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.

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