RF-EMF Risk Perception and Trust in Radiation Protection Authorities: A Comparative Study on Precautionary Information in Germany and Greece
Eggeling-Böcker M, Karabetsos E, Christopoulou M, Link SC, Abacioglu F, Boehmert C · 2026
Simple precautionary information about mobile phone use did not raise overall risk perception or lower trust, but adding conceptual explanations increased risk perception compared to basic information.
Plain English Summary
Researchers randomly assigned 2169 participants to basic, simple precautionary, or conceptual precautionary information about reducing RF-EMF exposure from mobile phones. Simple precautionary messages increased general conditional risk perception only when participants assumed no precautions were taken, but did not affect affective risk perception, trust, or risk perception when precautions were assumed. Providing an elaborate explanation of the precaution-prevention distinction did not reduce risk perception or increase trust compared to simple precautionary information, and increased risk perception compared to basic information. Greek participants reported higher perceived risks and lower trust than German participants, and women expressed higher risk perception and less trust than men.
Why This Matters
The authors suggest that emphasizing the conceptual distinction between precaution and prevention offers limited benefit for risk communication. The results indicate that precautionary information about personal mobile phone use can be shared without raising public concern about RF-EMF exposure from mobile communications, contrary to earlier research. Adding conceptual explanations to precautionary information was found to increase risk perception. The findings highlight the relevance of sociocultural and individual differences in risk communication.
Show BibTeX
@article{eggeling_bcker_m_karabetsos_e_christopoulou_m_link_sc_abacioglu_f_boehmert_c_ce4734,
author = {Eggeling-Böcker M and Karabetsos E and Christopoulou M and Link SC and Abacioglu F and Boehmert C},
title = {RF-EMF Risk Perception and Trust in Radiation Protection Authorities: A Comparative Study on Precautionary Information in Germany and Greece},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1002/bem.70042},
}