How Climate Risk Information Framing Shapes Individual Intentions for Urban Flood Adaptation: An Experimental Study on Bridging Perception and Action

  While climate change increases the risk of urban flooding, awareness of this risk does not often lead to adaptation behaviors. Although flood maps and risk information are widely provided, research on the effectiveness of these tools remains limited. It is imperative to elucidate the influence of this information on the adaptive behavioral design of the recipients and the psychological effects. This study examines how differences of the presentation of risk information influence people's behavioral intentions.

   For this study, a survey-based experimental study was conducted with 317 adult participants in South Korea. Participants were exposed to one of three designs for presenting climate risk information: (1) Risk-Level Type, showing flood severity; (2) Action-Guidance Type, listing specific steps to take; and (3) Action-Effectiveness Type, explaining how these steps would reduce damage. All information was designed in two parts, with a common urban flood map created by the researcher and a different explanation. Seventeen behaviors and psychological factors, such as perceived threat and self-efficacy, were measured based on the Theory of Planned Behavior and Protection Motivation Theory. Differences in adaptation behavioral intention  were analyzed across 17 behaviors by ANOVA, along with the mediating roles of psychological factors such as perceived threat and self-efficacy.

  The results show that information framing affects behavioral intentions, but in different ways the across behavior types. The risk-level format increased intentions mainly for individual, investment-oriented actions , while the behavior–efficacy format increased intentions mainly for social and everyday preparedness actions. Mediation analysis indicates that perceived threat plays a key role in shaping behavioural intention, while self-efficacy and perceived behavioural control show limited change after a single exposure to information. Follow-up interviews further identify a preference–intention gap: participants tend to like simple information formats, but stronger behavioural intentions are formed when information clearly explains effectiveness and consequences.

  The findings indicate the limitations of hazard-focused risk communication and underscore the importance of behavior-centered information design in disaster risk reduction. By conceptualizing climate risk information not only as a means of risk description but also as a mechanism to promote action, this study makes a significant contribution. The results also suggest pathways for future research that link urban planning–led adaptation measures with citizen behavior, helping ensure that planned adaptation actions are effectively implemented and supported by real-world engagement.