Effects of generalization descriptions on risk perception

F Freudenstein; F Boerner; R J Croft; R W S Leung; S P Loughran; P M Wiedemann

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.115422

Effects of generalization descriptions on risk perception

Environ Res. 2023 Apr 15:223:115422. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115422. Epub 2023 Feb 3.

Authors

F Freudenstein¹, F Boerner², R J Croft³, R W S Leung⁴, S P Loughran³, P M Wiedemann⁵

Affiliations

¹ Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Centre for Population Health Research on Electromagnetic Energy, Monash University, VIC, Australia; Faculty of Social Work, Health and Nursing, Ravensburg-Weingarten University of Applied Sciences, Weingarten, Germany. Electronic address: frederik.freudenstein@monash.edu.
² Institute of Occupational Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
³ Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Centre for Population Health Research on Electromagnetic Energy, Monash University, VIC, Australia; School of Psychology, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
⁴ School of Psychology, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
⁵ Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Centre for Population Health Research on Electromagnetic Energy, Monash University, VIC, Australia; School of Psychology, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.

PMID: 36738768
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115422

Abstract

The study addresses the effects of generalization descriptions on risk perceptions. In a 1-factorial online experiment, 629 participants were randomly allocated to one of three groups. Group G1 received an excerpt of an original press release from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) regarding mobile phones and cancer, classifying RF EMF as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Group G2 received an additional explanatory text module, and Group G3 received a rewritten text, with both G2 and G3 highlighting that the possible cancer risk only refers to mobile phones. Risk perceptions regarding cell phones and related personal devices, base stations, and high voltage power lines were used as dependent variables measured before and after text reading. Further, the degree to which participants generalized from cell phone-related to other RF EMF exposures was assessed to determine whether this was predictive of their post-text risk perceptions. Regarding risk perceptions, no differences between the three groups were observed after reading the presented texts. Instead, all three experimental groups indicated increased risk perceptions for all electromagnetic field sources. However, we found significant differences according to the prevailing risk generalization belief. Respondents expressing a strong risk generalization belief showed significantly higher risk perceptions for all tested EMF sources (except mobile phones) than subjects with a weak risk generalization belief.

Keywords: Base stations; Electromagnetic fields; Generalization effects; Mobile phones; Risk communication; Risk perception.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cell Phone*
Electromagnetic Fields
Frailty*
Humans
Perception
Radio Waves