Resilience and Preparedness Across Place: A Multilevel Analysis of Urban-Rural and Socioeconomic Divides

This study investigates how local context-specifically urban versus rural environments and socioeconomic conditions-influences individual crisis preparedness and resilience in Sweden. Using multilevel survey data from 12,574 respondents, we analyze both proactive preparedness actions and perceived resilience. Results show that rural residents report higher levels of preparedness and resilience than their urban counterparts. However, these differences in preparedness attenuate when controlling for individual risk perception, suggesting a mediating role. Socioeconomic context, on the other hand, does not show an independent effect beyond individual characteristics, indicating compositional rather than contextual influences. The findings highlight the importance of tailoring crisis preparedness strategies to both individual and local characteristics and stress the need for authorities to consider spatial disparities in vulnerability when planning for future crises.