A Study on Regional Attachment and Self-efficacy for Resilience of Fukushima Fostered by Field Study Tours From an Approach with the Integrated Bayesian Network Analysis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to quantitatively examine the changes in indicators of regional attachment to Fukushima and self-efficacy for reconstruction among university students through field study tours, conducted from September 2021 to November 2022, aimed at fostering regional revitalization of Fukushima after the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. The data for the analysis were collected through questionnaire surveys administered before and after the tour. By analyzing the data from both pre- and post-surveys, the changes in regional attachment and self-efficacy of participants were quantitatively assessed in order to understand the participants' latent attitudes and the impact of the field study tour on their perceptions. The analysis was conducted on valid responses obtained from 48 participants who completed all items in both surveys. The findings revealed that the participants developed a sense of attachment to the visited areas and gained a greater belief in their ability to contribute to the region's recovery through the field study experience. Moreover, the results indicated that the development of self-efficacy was influenced by the development of regional attachment. This highlights the significance of not only providing information about the history and challenges of reconstruction but also emphasizing the attractiveness and resilience of the community and positive aspects for a brighter future during the pre-study and field study phases to enhance community attachment.