Development and validation of the Japanese version of the Psychological Preparedness for Disaster Threat Scale

Abstract Japan is a disaster-prone country that experiences frequent natural hazards. Consequently, there is a need for a culturally adapted tool to assess individuals’ psychological readiness for disasters in Japan. Existing Japanese instruments tend to emphasize the behavioral and material aspects of disaster preparedness while overlooking psychological preparedness. This study developed and validated a Japanese version of the Psychological Preparedness for Disaster Threat Scale. A nationwide online survey was conducted (N = 773), followed by an additional survey for test-retest analysis (N = 195). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a three-factor structure: knowledge and management of the external situational environment, management of one’s emotional and psychological response, and management of one’s social environment. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated good model fit. The final 23-item version demonstrated high internal consistency for the total scale (α = .956) and its subscales (α = .919, .936, and .827) and acceptable test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = .766). The findings demonstrate that the Japanese version of the Psychological Preparedness for Disaster Threat Scale is a reliable and valid tool for measuring psychological preparedness for disasters, offering practical utility for disaster education, policy planning, and mental health interventions amid increasing climate-related disaster risks.