Increasing Risk Perception and Understanding of Hurricane Storm Tides Using an Interactive, Web-Based Visualization Approach

Moderating binge drinking among young people remains a major health policy focus of European Union (EU) member states. Risk perceptions toward alcohol are an important predictor of consumption behavior. We analyze how alcohol policies and various sources providing information about alcohol's effects impact adolescents' risk perceptions about alcohol. We employ the 2008 Flash Eurobarometer survey, 'Young people and drugs', with 12,312 (15-24 year old) resident citizens across the 27 EU member states. After adjusting for inter-country variation, most alcohol policies tested had no significant influence on risk perceptions. Only the blood alcohol concentration limit for driving and health warnings on advertisements and/or alcoholic beverage containers showed a significant effect, increasing risk perceptions among adolescents. Three sources of information dissemination about alcohol's risks and effects showed significant influence on risk perceptions. While information about the risks of alcohol from parents increased risk perceptions, information from friends decreased it. The influence of media campaigns was only marginal, though indicating a small decrease in risk perceptions. If the desire is to increase risk perceptions, policy makers should emphasize the short-term effects and externalities of alcohol consumption as well as focus on the clear and salient dissemination of risk information that may influence the normative environment.

Objective: Cigarette graphic warning labels elicit negative emotion, which increases risk perceptions through multiple processes. We examined whether this emotion simultaneously affects motivated cognitions like smoking myth endorsement (e.g. ‘exercise can undo the negative effects of smoking’) and perceptions of cigarette danger versus other products.Design: 736 adult and 469 teen smokers/vulnerable smokers viewed one of three warning label types (text-only, low emotion graphic or high emotion graphic) four times over two weeks.Main outcome measures: Emotional reactions to the warnings were reported during the first and fourth exposures. Participants reported how often they considered the warnings, smoking myth endorsement, risk perceptions and perceptions of cigarette danger relative to smokeless tobacco and electronic cigarettes.Results: In structural equation models, emotional reactions influenced risk perceptions and smoking myth endorsement through two processes. Emotion acted as information about risk, directly increasing smoking risk perceptions and decreasing smoking myth endorsement. Emotion also acted as a spotlight, motivating consideration of the warning information. Warning consideration increased risk perceptions, but also increased smoking myth endorsement. Emotional reactions to warnings decreased perceptions of cigarette danger relative to other products.Conclusions: Emotional reactions to cigarette warnings increase smoking risk perceptions, but also smoking myth endorsement and misperceptions that cigarettes are less dangerous than potentially harm-reducing tobacco products.

The present study seeks to evaluate the relationships between cannabis-related communication and outcomes of interest such as cannabis-related risk perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors among young adults. Young adults who were at risk for cannabis use were surveyed online in 2020. Results showed that exposure to online educational messages was associated with higher intentions of engaging in peer intervention, while exposure to online advertising was related to higher intention to use cannabis. Anti-cannabis interpersonal discussion was associated with increased risk perceptions, less favorable cannabis attitudes, and a higher likelihood of peer intervention. More pro-cannabis interpersonal discussion was associated with decreased risk perceptions, more favorable cannabis attitudes, higher use intention, and decreased likelihood of peer intervention. In addition, pro-cannabis interpersonal discussion mediated the relationship between exposure to advertising and cannabis risk perceptions, intentions to use cannabis, attitudes about cannabis, and the likelihood of peer intervention. In contrast, anti-cannabis interpersonal discussion mediated the relationship between exposure to educational messages online and cannabis risk perceptions and the likelihood of peer intervention. These findings underscore the need to regulate online cannabis marketing and the importance of investing in online education campaigns to increase public understanding of the risks associated with cannabis consumption in young adulthood.

The frequency and intensity of high-temperature events continue to increase, resulting in a surge of pathogenicity and mortality. People with low levels of risk perception and adaptability, such as the elderly, suffer more from high temperatures. Effective intervention measures may lead to reduced levels of high temperature-related risk. The purpose of this study was to compare changes in temperature exposure, risk perception and coping behaviors under different intervention methods. Herein we conducted three different interventions including education, subsidies for electricity and uses of spray-cooling appliances as well as collected data about temperature exposure, risk perception, and coping behaviors. Before and after the experiment, we evaluated the intervention effectiveness with a number of variables related to alerting human responses under high temperatures. We conducted nonparametric tests for paired samples and generalized linear mixed effect models. Compared with subsidy support and outdoor spray-cooling methods, education is more effective as it leads to lower levels of temperature exposure, higher levels of risk perception, and more behavioral responses. The subsidy support intervention is useful in increasing risk perception and promoting home cooling practices as well. In comparison, spray cooling barely contributes to the reduction of personal temperature exposure. The encouragement of risk-related education and continued government subsidy may prevent elderly individuals from experiencing high-temperature exposure.

The vigilant parent: Parental role salience affects parents' risk perceptions, risk-aversion, and trust in strangers

BackgroundUnderstanding factors that influence information seeking, assessment of risk and mitigation behaviors is critical during a public health crises. This longitudinal study examined the influence of self-reported mental health during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic on information seeking, risk perception and perceived mask wearing ability. Mental health screener items included fear, anger, and hopelessness in addition to avoidance, diminished functional ability and global distress. Theoretical models inform hypotheses linking mental health items and outcomes.MethodsThe research employed a longitudinal 6-state 3-wave online panel survey, with an initial sample of 3,059 participants (2,232 included in longitudinal analyses). Participants roughly represented the states’ age, race, ethnicity, and income demographics.ResultsWomen, those who identified as Hispanic/Latinx, Black Americans and lower income participants reported higher overall rates of distress than others. Information seeking was more common among older persons, Democrats, retirees, those with higher education, and those who knew people who had died of COVID-19. Controlling for such demographic variables, in multivariable longitudinal models that included baseline mental health measures, distress and fear were associated with increased information seeking. Distress and fear were also associated with increased risk perception, and feelings of hopelessness were associated with lower reported mask-wearing ability.ConclusionsResults advance understanding of the role mental health can play in information seeking, risk perception and mask wearing with implications for clinicians, public health practitioners and policy makers.

This study uses an integrated coastal processes model to simulate hydrodynamics driven by storms, tides, river inflows, and winds in a large-scale domain covering the Mississippi and Louisiana Gulf Coasts. By using existing bathymetric data and DEM topographic data, a high-resolution mesh is generated to represent structures, roads, rivers, barrier islands, and lakes. For study of flooding and inundation of hurricanes in the inland areas of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the Pearl River and its floodplain are included in the mesh with a detailed river course. Using two synthetic storms, four hurricane scenarios are simulated by using this model. Computed maximum storm surges without the Pearl River are compared with those with the river inflow. Differences between the storm surges indicate that the inclusion of the river inflow is imperative in order to obtain accurate predictions on flood and inundation due to storm surges in the Mississippi Coast community.

STI Risk Perception in the British Population and How It Relates to Sexual Behaviour and STI Healthcare Use: Findings From a Cross-sectional Survey (Natsal-3)

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at the frontline defense against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Inadequate knowledge and incorrect attitudes among HCWs can directly influence practices and lead to delayed diagnosis, poor infection control practice, and spread of disease. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, perception, and attitude of the Egyptian HCWs towards the COVID-19 disease. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Egypt, among 407 HCWs using a self-administered questionnaire. The mean correct answer rate was 80.4% with a mean knowledge score of 18.5 ± 2.7 out of 24. A positive correlation between knowledge and attitude scores was detected (r = 0.215, p < 0.001). About 83.1% of our participants reported that they were afraid of being infected with COVID-19, and 89.2% stated that they were more susceptible to COVID-19 infection as compared to others. Unavailability of personal protective equipment (PPE), fear of transmitting the disease to their families, and social stigma were the most frequently reported reasons for increased risk perception. The overall knowledge level of HCWs was generally good especially among physicians. A positive attitude was detected among allied health professionals more than physicians. Risk perception was high among HCWs. Causes of increased risk perception need to considered by the government and the Egyptian Ministry of Health.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s10900-020-00882-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Warning label messages about the cancer risk associated with alcohol: Effects of causal language.

Given the presence of toxic metals in some local Iranian as well as some imported rice varieties, it may be of help to focus on public awareness for the implementation of educational interventions. This study aimed to assess awareness and attitudes of women in Sanandaj, Iran, regarding toxic metal-contaminated rice based on the Health Belief Model (HBM). This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1450 women aged 18 and above. The questionnaire used in the study consisted of three parts; demographic information, awareness assessment, and HBM constructs. Data were analyzed using chi-square test, t-test, ANOVA, and the logistic regression analysis in SPSS. The mean age of the study participants was 40.55 ± 13.8 years. The level of awareness regarding the presence of toxic metals in daily-consumed rice was low in 78.2% and moderate in 21.8% of the participants. Among the attitude factors, risk perception was the only one that increased the probability of falling in the group with moderate awareness instead of the group with low awareness by 1.37 times. The results support the necessity of raising public awareness and increasing risk perception in the population about the adverse effects of toxic metals.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of three COVID-19-related variables (i.e., risk perception, knowledge, and behaviour) on four indices of pandemic-related mental health (i.e., anxiety, depression, loneliness, and hopelessness). In total, 337 participants completed four self-report questionnaires: selected subscales of the World Health Organisation's COVID-19 Behavioural Insights Tool, UCLA Loneliness Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and Beck Hopelessness Scale. In addition to descriptive statistics and intercorrelations, structural equation modelling was used to compare three models of the potential role (predictor or moderator/mediator) that the three abovementioned COVID-19-related variables could play in psychological wellbeing. The results showed high levels of psychological distress among the current sample. Generally, better knowledge of COVID-19 and engaging in protective behaviours were found to be related to lower levels of psychological distress, whereas increased risk perception was found to be associated with increased feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. It was also found that behaviour mediated the effect of knowledge on psychological wellbeing, suggesting that while publicising information about COVID-19 remains necessary, providing the public with a means to engage in protective behaviours is central for promoting psychological wellbeing.

The current research explored how attachment anxiety influences attitudes and behaviors in romantic contexts among single emerging adults during COVID-19. Study 1 ( n = 242) revealed that, despite increased risk perceptions, emerging adults high in attachment anxiety report decreased cautiousness and a greater percentage of hook-ups outside their pod/bubble. Attitudes about masking with a romantic partner mirrored those of low anxiety emerging adults. In study 2 ( n = 186), we used a quasi-experimental design to explore whether romantic (vs. control) contexts differentially impact attitudes toward masking. High anxiety emerging adults reported somewhat increased risk perceptions across condition, but more negative attitudes toward masking and less confidence in helping a partner mask in the romantic (vs. control) condition. Low anxiety emerging adults’ attitudes and confidence were unaffected by condition. Results suggest that emerging adults high in anxiety, while generally more concerned about COVID, appeared to reduce cautiousness in romantic contexts.

The transition towards renewable energy is crucial in addressing climate change and ensuring sustainable economic development. However, investment decisions in the renewable energy sector are influenced by various factors beyond traditional financial metrics. This study explores the role of investor sentiment in driving investment flows into renewable energy assets. Drawing upon the principles of behavioural finance, the research examines how psychological factors, market moods, and sentiment indices impact investment decisions, asset pricing, and the valuation of renewable energy companies and projects. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, including sentiment analysis of market data and investor surveys, the thesis investigates the correlation between investor sentiment and investment patterns in renewable energy markets. The findings reveal that positive investor sentiment significantly enhances capital allocation towards renewable energy initiatives, while periods of negative sentiment increase volatility and risk perception. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers, investors, and stakeholders seeking to promote sustainable investments by understanding and leveraging behavioural factors. Ultimately, this research contributes to the growing literature on sustainable finance and behavioural influences in green investments.

Diverse outcomes from the COVID-19 pandemic from different countries raise questions about how information related factors influence judgements about the risks of the outbreak. Adopting a comparative survey approach, this study investigates whether and how, knowledge, content trust, and content magnitude are associated with COVID-19 risk perception among respondents in Ghana and the United States (n = 736) during the first phase of the pandemic (April -June 2020). Using snowball and convenience sampling strategies, the online comparative cross-sectional survey found that US respondents had higher risk perceptions, but in both countries, risk perceptions were moderate to low. The study found that those who trusted traditional media content (television, radio, and printed materials) and received high volumes of information from these sources had higher risk perceptions. Hierarchical linear regression (stepwise) indicated that income is a positive predictor of risk perceptions in both US and Ghana. However, while all three knowledge variables influenced risk perceptions in the US, only transmission knowledge influenced risk perceptions in Ghana. While trust in content from radio lowered risk perceptions, trust in content from television and printed materials increased risk perceptions in Ghana. For the US, trust in the content of printed materials led to higher risk perception. High volumes of information from printed materials increased risk perceptions in Ghana but lowered risk perceptions in the US. For pandemics that require stay-at-home orders, legacy media such as television and printed materials should be considered and utilized for information dissemination in both countries.