Pangandaran, December 30, 2024 — Four lecturers from the Faculty of Communication Sciences (FIKOM) at Universitas Padjadjaran (UNPAD) have completed a significant study on disaster preparedness. The research, titled “Disaster Education and Social Media Use Influence Disaster Preparedness in Coastal Communities,” explores the crucial role of education and social media in enhancing the readiness of coastal communities to face potential disasters.
The study is a collaborative effort by Falih Ijlal Septian, Edwin Rizal, Ute Lies Siti Khadijah, and Rully Khairul Anwar. The background for this research is the critical need to improve preparedness in coastal areas, particularly in Masawah Village, Cimerak District, Pangandaran Regency, which faces a high risk of natural disasters. The objective was to examine the impact of disaster education and social media use, as well as the mediating role of intention using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework.
Using a quantitative survey method, the research team collected data from 100 respondents selected through cluster sampling. The data were then analyzed using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) method with the SmartPLS 3.0 software. This approach allowed the researchers to deeply measure the cause-and-effect relationships between the variables studied.
The research findings indicate that disaster education and social media use significantly influence both individual intention and actual disaster preparedness. The study also confirmed the important mediating role of intention, which links education and social media use to preparedness actions. This means that the stronger a person’s intention, the more likely they are to genuinely prepare for a disaster.
Based on these findings, the researchers recommend several practical implications. Disaster education should include practical training and community participation, not just theory. Meanwhile, social media campaigns should leverage popular platforms like WhatsApp and TikTok to effectively and widely reach the audience.
This publication not only contributes to the academic literature by integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) but also provides guidance for policymakers and disaster management organizations. The research aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 4 (Quality Education), by emphasizing the importance of education as a tool for disaster adaptation and mitigation.
The scientific article has been published in the Sinta 2 Journal, Khazanah Sosial. It is hoped that these findings will serve as a valuable reference for formulating more effective policies to enhance community preparedness in coastal regions.
The publication results can be accessed via the following link: http://media.unpad.ac.id/files/publikasi/2025/rpm_20250128110206_5749.pdf
Writers: Ridha Amalia, Nadziva Shaqeena, and Muhammad Ihsan Fauzul Haq
