Visual Designs' Effect on Comprehension and Protective Action in Early Warning Messages Among Non-Native Speakers in Sweden

Abstract

Early warning systems are a globally adopted adaptation strategy aimed at reducing the impact of increasingly frequent and severe disasters. Within these systems, warning communication and dissemination have been identified as critical gaps, undermining their effectiveness, as inadequate communication systems contribute significantly to disaster-related losses. Language can be a significant barrier to understanding and acting on alerts when the message is only disseminated in the native language. For this reason, the study aims to examine whether the inclusion of embedded visual elements in text-based early warning messages improves comprehension and intended protective action among non-native speakers. A quantitative study was conducted, collecting data through an online survey which employed a randomized between-subject design, and analyzed through various statistical analyses. The results indicate that incorporating visual elements, like icons, in warning messages may improve comprehension among non-native speakers, especially in action-oriented information. However, behavioral responses are influenced by more than comprehension alone; therefore, visuals do not appear to significantly affect intended protective action. Analysis between the two survey conditions suggests that language remains a key driver of comprehension in text-based warnings, while visuals, such as icons, can serve as a tool to reduce reliance on language and support individuals with lower proficiency. Future research should consider replicating the study across different countries, languages, and hazard contexts to determine how broadly these findings apply in diverse emergency communication settings.

Popular Abstract

Breaking Language Barriers in Natural Disaster Warnings

Imagine your home was in the path of a natural disaster. A warning arrives, but it is written in a language you barely understand. Could simple icons alongside the text make the message clearer? Language barriers can make disaster warnings difficult to understand, leaving people uncertain about the level of danger or what actions they should take. This research explored whether adding icons to warning messages could improve understanding among people with limited proficiency in the warning language. The findings suggest that icons can make warning messages easier to understand, although they did not appear to increase people's intentions to take protective action.

Communication barriers have long posed challenges in disaster management, but these challenges are becoming increasingly important in a rapidly changing world. Natural disasters are affecting communities across the globe, while growing migration means that many people now live in countries where they may not fully understand the local language. In Sweden, the amount of people with a foreign background has increased to 27%, highlighting the increasing diversity of society. As disasters become more frequent and populations more multilingual, effective communication systems are becoming increasingly important, because warnings can only protect people if they are understood and acted upon.

To investigate whether icons could improve warning communication, participants completed an online survey and were shown either text-only warning messages or warnings that combined text with icons. The messages were based on real alerts issued in Sweden for a structure fire and a wildfire, while the icons were designed to visually represent the advised protective actions in the warning.

The results showed a consistent pattern, icons helped participants better understand the recommended protective actions. Surprisingly, however, this improved understanding did not translate into stronger intentions to act. In other words, participants knew more clearly what they were being advised to do, but this did not necessarily mean they were more likely to do it. This suggests that understanding a warning is only part of the decision-making process and that other factors may also shape how people respond during emergencies.

These findings contribute to ongoing research on the role of visual design in disaster communication, demonstrating how icons can help overcome language barriers and support understanding among people with limited proficiency in the warning language. For emergency agencies, incorporating simple visuals alongside text could improve clarity and accessibility of warning messages for increasingly diverse populations. However, the results also suggest that better understanding alone may not be enough to influence behaviour, highlighting the need to further research into the factors that shape how people respond during emergencies. Replicating the study across different countries, languages and hazard contexts could help determine whether these findings apply more broadly.

• author: Crothers, Chloe
• supervisor: Finn Nilson
• organization: Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety
• course: VBRM15 20261
• year: 2026
• type: H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
• subject: Languages and Literatures
• keywords: Risk Communications, Early Warning Systems, Disaster Linguism, Language Barriers, Icons
• language: English
• id: 9239515
• date added to LUP: 2026-06-17 08:01:59
• date last changed: 2026-06-18 11:25:06