Helping After the 2020 Earthquake in Croatia: The Role of Men's and Women's National Identity

Abstract

The goal of this study was to investigate whether the association between national identity and providing direct aid to individuals impacted by the 2020 earthquake in Croatia differs depending on the gender. A convenience sample of 374 Croatian residents (70.1% women) between 18 and 64 years old completed a cross-sectional survey on-line. Participants, using valid questionaires, self-reported their level of national identity and how much direct assistance they provided to people in earthquake-affected areas. The study employed a linear regression model to test the moderating effect of gender on the relationship between national identity and direct aid provision. The results showed that the interaction between national identity and gender significantly affected helping: higher levels of national identity predicted greater helping among men but not women. This suggests that men were more motivated than women to provide aid after the earthquake due to their sense of national identity and affiliation with the nation. These findings have significant implications for disaster relief efforts, as different motivations may be at play when providing aid during crises. Relief organizations can tailor their efforts to meet the needs and motivations of different groups, resulting in more effective relief efforts.