The Influence Of Short-Form Video On Earthquake Preparedness Among Young Adults Using Structural Equation Modeling: A Cross‐Sectional Study In China

Abstract

Frequent earthquakes in early 2025 underscored the urgent need to enhance public awareness of disaster preparedness. In China, short-form videos have emerged as a vital medium for disseminating disaster-related information and engaging audiences with earthquake topics. Despite their growing role in disaster risk communication, empirical investigations into how short-form video content influences individual preparedness behaviors remain limited. This study examines the relationship between exposure to short-form videos and earthquake preparedness among young Chinese adults (aged 18–36). Data were collected through an online survey, yielding 403 valid responses. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 26.0 and Jamovi 2.6.24 to test the proposed hypotheses. Results indicated that exposure to short-form videos was positively associated with social realism and anxiety. Dual serial mediation effects were identified: (1) through social realism and the first-person effect, and (2) through anxiety and perceived spatial distance, linking short-form video exposure to earthquake preparedness. The findings extend empirical evidence on the formation of earthquake preparedness among young adults, particularly within a collectivist context.