The Relationships between Particulate Matter Risk Perception, Knowledge, and Health Promoting Behaviors among College Students

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the relationships between particulate matter risk perception, knowledge, and perceived barriers and health-promoting behaviors among college students. METHODS: Data for this cross-sectional study were collected from September 1 to 30, 2017. The study sample consisted of 85 students from a university, Seoul. Students not living in the Seoul metropolitan area during the spring 2017 semester were excluded from participation. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to identify relationships among study variables. RESULTS: A significant positive correlation existed between particulate matter risk perception and health-promoting behaviors related to particulate matter (r=.51, p < .001). Among the risk perception subdomains, attention (r=.47, p < .001) and health effect (r=.55, p < .001) showed strong positive relationships with health-promoting behaviors. No significant relationships were found between knowledge (r=.12, p=.288) or perceived barriers (r=−.12, p=.264) and health-promoting behaviors related to particulate matter. CONCLUSION: Based on the study results, strategies for enhancing particulate matter risk perception are needed to increase the level of health-promoting behaviors related to particulate matter among college students.