Heatwaves, growing in frequency, tragically affect elderly populations. Prevention is crucial to reduce excess mortality, requiring identification of their vulnerabilities and effective actions. Yet, many studies overlook vital distinctions in risk factors : vulnerability to heat and the ability to protect oneself from it. An individual’s capacity to shield themselves from heat is just one facet of their overall risk profile, partly influenced by their behavioral tendencies. The study aims to characterize behavioral profiles associated with vulnerability factors. The methodology involves administering a survey to 300 participants aged 55 and older, with the goal of understanding adaptation to heat. Drawing on latent class analysis, the results indicate three profiles : 48.8% of the population takes no proactive measures, 17.5% reacts moderately, regardless of the severity of the heatwaves, 33.7% of the population promptly adopts all precautionary measures.
Additionally, employing latent transition analysis, adaptation profiles are constructed based on preventive measures, scrutinizing the attributes of populations transitioning between these profiles in response to the varying severity of the heatwave.
The distinctive contribution lies in the segmentation of behaviors, encompassing cognitive capacities, beliefs, perceptions of health impacts, and digital usage. This grouping enhances not only the ability to characterize vulnerability among the elderly populations but also deepens the comprehension of the determinants driving behavioral changes. Consequently, it empowers the proposal of a prevention strategy that precisely targets vulnerable populations and identifies specific actions tailored to their needs.
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