Assessing the influence of self and collective efficacy on volunteering following a natural disaster

Following hurricane Katrina, many New Orleanians evacuated to Baton Rouge. Despite a significant outpouring of assistance, not everyone engaged in pro-social behaviors during this time. Some felt an obligation to help yet failed to donate their time to assist those displaced by the storm. Prior studies have examined pro-social behavior following a natural disaster as a product of self or collective efficacy. Analyzing data from interviews with Baton Rouge area residents two months after Katrina, we explore the role of self and collective efficacy on helping activity and volunteering in shelters for evacuees. This study advances the extant literature by exploring an interactive model to provide a more accurate assessment of how self and collective efficacy work contemporaneously to influence different forms of pro-social behavior. Results suggest the likelihood of helping others or volunteering after a disaster are, in part, dependent on a nuanced combination of self and collective efficacy.