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How Can Smart Digital Technology Improve the Security Resilience of Old Urban Communities? The Chain Mediating Effect of Residents’ Sense of Safety and Safety Behaviors

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  • Chengcheng Zhang

    (School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
    School of Management Engineering, Xuzhou University of Technology, Xuzhou 221018, China)

  • Linxiu Wang

    (School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China)

  • Chenyang Wang

    (School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China)

  • Tiantian Gu

    (School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China)

Abstract

Old communities are the weak link in urban security resilience, and smart governance could be a useful tool to address this issue. However, the existing research does not provide a definitive explanation of the mechanisms through which smart governance affects resilience. Based on the Accident Causation Theory and the ABC Theory of Emotion, a mixed-methods approach utilizing NCA and SEM is used to analyze the impact of smart digital technology on the security resilience of old urban communities and to explore the mediating roles of residents’ sense of safety and safety behaviors. The findings from on old urban communities in China reveal that smart digital technology and residents’ safety compliance behaviors are essential for community security resilience. Smart digital technology significantly and positively influences the security resilience of old urban communities. Residents’ sense of safety and safety participation behaviors mediate the relationship between smart digital technology and security resilience of old urban communities; residents’ sense of safety, safety compliance behaviors, and safety participation behaviors also exhibit a chain mediating role in the relationship between smart digital technology and security resilience of old urban communities. Therefore, old urban communities need to strengthen the application of smart digital technologies, while considering the human factor and emphasizing the facilitating role of residents’ sense of safety and safety behaviors.

Suggested Citation

  • Chengcheng Zhang & Linxiu Wang & Chenyang Wang & Tiantian Gu, 2025. "How Can Smart Digital Technology Improve the Security Resilience of Old Urban Communities? The Chain Mediating Effect of Residents’ Sense of Safety and Safety Behaviors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:17:p:7921-:d:1741163
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    References listed on IDEAS

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