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Exposure to heat wave risks across time and places: Seasonal variations and predictors of feelings of threat across heat wave geographical susceptibility locations

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Vulnerability to heat waves and their negative effects on health vary not only due toindividual factors but also due to situational factors, such as time and geography. Hence,we explored seasonal variations and predictors of heat wave feelings of threat acrossdifferent heat wave geographical susceptibility locations in Portugal. A total of 238Portuguese residents responded to a web-based longitudinal survey: before the summer,during a heat wave in the summer, during the summer, and after the summer. Geograph-ical location was used as an indicator of risk exposure, operationalized as heat waveoccurrence susceptibility (low, moderate, high). Heat wave demands and resources per-ceptions were assessed to compute an indicator of heat wave feelings of threat. Duringthe heat wave, feelings of threat were higher among participants in high-susceptibilitylocations, with demands outweighing resources perceptions, suggesting greater distressand coping difficulty. Regression analysis suggested that older participants and femaleparticipants living in moderate–high-susceptibility locations had greater difficulty inrecovering. Heat wave risk perception and positive affect about heat were identifiedas the most consistent predictors of heat wave feelings of threat, with risk perceptionincreasing and positive affect decreasing such feelings. Participants with (individualand geographical) vulnerability profiles, who had greater difficulty in coping and recov-ering from heat waves, could benefit from resource-building/enhancing interventions.In a climatic crisis context, monitoring psychological responses to heat waves (e.g.,threat) may enable anticipated action to build resilience before, rather than after, theeffects become damaging to physical and psychological health

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Adaptation and resilience Feelings of threat Geographical susceptibility Heat waves

Citation

Domingos, S., Gaspar, R., & Marôco, J. (2024). Exposure to heat wave risks across time and places: Seasonal variations and predictors of feelings of threat across heat wave geographical susceptibility locations. Risk Analysis. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.14294

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Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd

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