Fostering Community Resilience from the Grassroots: Individual Factors Influencing Citizen Coproduction in Disasters

Abstract

This research explores how individual factors, including intrinsic motivations, capabilities, and specific characteristics, shape both individual disaster preparedness and volunteering, representing private and altruistic coproduction in disasters. Analyzing data from 5,681 respondents in the 2022 US National Household Survey, logistic regression results reveal that group belonging and self-efficacy, identified as citizens’ intrinsic motivations, positively correlate with the likelihood of engaging in disaster preparedness (emergency plans, emergency supplies, emergency alerts, and emergency drills) and volunteering. Regarding individual abilities, disaster experience positively influences the propensity to undertake each preparedness activity and to volunteer, while resource access increases the likelihood of adopting all preparedness actions and volunteering, except for stocking emergency supplies. Concerning individual-specific characteristics, the urban-rural divide shows a negative association with volunteering. The findings contribute to the growing coproduction literature for residents preparing for and volunteering in disasters and highlight individual determinants in building resilient communities.