The Environmental Health Literacy of Italian General Population: The SPeRA Cross-Sectional Study

Fabrizio Bert, Marta Gea, Christian Previti (), Gregorio Massocco, Giuseppina Lo Moro, Giacomo Scaioli, Tiziana Schilirò and Roberta Siliquini
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Fabrizio Bert: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
Marta Gea: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
Christian Previti: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
Gregorio Massocco: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
Giuseppina Lo Moro: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
Giacomo Scaioli: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
Tiziana Schilirò: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
Roberta Siliquini: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-15

Abstract: Environmental health literacy (EHL) includes knowledge of health effects due to environmental exposure and skills to protect health from environmental risks. This study investigated some aspects about EHL of the Italian adult population. Data were collected through questionnaires ( n = 672) and analysed through multivariable logistic regression models. Results showed that participants with incomplete/insufficient self-perceived knowledge of health effects due to environmental risks verified less information about this topic (adjOR = 0.38 (CI95% 0.25–0.59)/0.09 (0.04–0.21); p < 0.001/<0.001), potentially spreading fake news. The self-perceived exposure to pollution was higher in participants living in towns than in rural areas (small, medium, big towns adjOR = 2.37 (1.41–3.97), 2.10 (1.11–3.96), 3.11 (1.53–6.31); p = 0.001, 0.022, 0.002) and lower in participants with incomplete/insufficient knowledge about pollution effects (adjOR = 0.54 (0.32–0.92)/0.30 (0.13–0.67); p = 0.022/0.004), confirming that knowledge is essential to achieve awareness. Since insufficient self-perceived knowledge of pollution effects was negatively associated with the adoption of pro-environmental behaviours (adjOR = 0.37 (0.15–0.90); p = 0.028), EHL was proven to be a virtuous behaviour promoter. Finally, a lack of institutional support, time and cost were identified as barriers to pro-environmental behaviours. This study provided useful data to design prevention programmes, underlined some barriers to pro-environmental behaviours and highlighted the need to promote attitudes and behaviours aimed at contrasting environmental pollution, thus protecting human health.

Keywords: environmental health literacy; pro-environmental behaviours; environmental risk perception; pro-environmental attitudes; adult population; environmental burden of diseases (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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