Psychological responses to air pollution: Some personality and demographic correlates

Abstract

This paper examines people's affective reactions towards air pollution and some personality and demographic correlates of these reactions. Data were collected by means of a survey based on a stratified cluster area probability sample of over 900 households in the Haifa region in northern Israel. In addition to demographic information, data were collected through structured interview procedure on trait anger and anxiety and a host of perceptions and attitudes with respect to air pollution, including: degree of anger and anxiety aroused by air pollution; perceived degree of pollution severity; propensity to pay towards pollution abatement; and methods of coping with air pollution. Perceived level of pollution is a stronger predictor of affective reactions and willingness to pay to reduce pollution than is the objective level of pollution. Furthermore, individuals more emotionally aroused with respect to a polluted environment are more prone to put in time and more willing to allocate financial resources towards pollution abatement. This study implicates age, perceptions of tax inadequacy, and personality variables as correlates of negative affect and willingness to pay. The decision theoretic implications of the data are discussed.