Can the experience in COVID-19 prevention and control improve the emergency response capacity of local civil servants in China?

Based on the goal orientation theory, this study hypothesized that civil servants' experience in COVID-19 prevention and control could enhance their emergency response capacity (ERC). This hypothesis was tested through an analysis of civil servants in Shandong province of China, using a structural equation model. The findings revealed a significant positive correlation between enhanced ERC and the prevention and control experiences in epidemic, with public service motivation (PSM) serving as a critical mediating factor. The study also identified spatial heterogeneity in the impact of ERC, which emphasized the necessity for region-specific strategies.