Particulate matter ; Perception ; Health promotion ; Student
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.