Combined and Relative Effect Levels of Perceived Risk, Knowledge, Optimism, Pessimism, and Social Trust on Anxiety among Inhabitants Concerning Living on Heavy Metal Contaminated Soil

Abstract

This research aims at combined and relative effect levels on anxiety of: (1) perceived risk, knowledge, optimism, pessimism, and social trust; and (2) four sub-variables of social trust among inhabitants concerning living on heavy metal contaminated soil. On the basis of survey data from 499 Chinese respondents, results suggest that perceived risk, pessimism, optimism, and social trust have individual, significant, and direct effects on anxiety, while knowledge does not. Knowledge has significant, combined, and interactive effects on anxiety together with social trust and pessimism, respectively, but does not with perceived risk and optimism. Social trust, perceived risk, pessimism, knowledge, and optimism have significantly combined effects on anxiety; the five variables as a whole have stronger predictive values than each one individually. Anxiety is influenced firstly by social trust and secondly by perceived risk, pessimism, knowledge, and optimism. Each of four sub-variables of social trust has an individual, significant, and negative effect on anxiety. When introducing four sub-variables into one model, trust in social organizations and in the government have significantly combined effects on anxiety, while trust in experts and in friends and relatives do not; anxiety is influenced firstly by trust in social organization, and secondly by trust in the government.

Perceived Risk and Intentions to Practice Health Protective Behaviors in a Mining-Impacted Region

“…Although the Superfund program is intended to reduce public health risks and improve living conditions, residents have also developed negative emotional responses towards hazards and the decision-makers associated with the program (e.g., [ 72 , 73 , 74 ]). Fears of stigmatization and concerns about economic development have long been associated with how people cope with risk in mining-impacted communities [ 73 , 75 ]. Baxter and Lee [ 76 ] found that a strong sense of community pride and a fear of stigmatization prevented people from outwardly expressing concern about the health risks of a nearby hazardous waste facility.…”

Intolerance of Uncertainty and Tendency to Worry as Mediators Between Trust in Institutions and Social Support and Fear of Coronavirus and Consequences of the Pandemic

“…As previously established, trust in other people (friends, acquaintances, strangers, etc.) is related to lower anxiety levels in various health-threatening situations ( Delhey and Newton, 2003 ; Tang et al, 2016 ). An explanation of this finding might be related to the fact that persons with a higher trust in other people may perceive a lower level of risks related to the pandemic.…”

Who Is the Most Vulnerable to Anxiety at the Beginning of the COVID-19 Outbreak in China? A Cross-Sectional Nationwide Survey

“…People with higher education may also be more concerned about national development and social stability, which may make them vulnerable to anxiety during epidemic outbreaks. Many studies have revealed that highly educated individuals tend to suffer from "knowledge anxiety" [45,46]. Furthermore, anxiety can develop into behavioral changes such as constantly disinfecting and scrambling for medicines.…”