International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 7 authors, 4 centres
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This cross-sectional survey of youth aged 9-18 found that while participants demonstrated moderate environmental health knowledge, this knowledge was only weakly associated with self-reported pro-environmental behaviors. The study suggests that targeted educational activities may improve both knowledge and behavior, but the weak knowledge-behavior link highlights a key limitation in translating awareness to action.
Environmental pollutants are linked to health issues in youth, yet translating environmental knowledge into protective behavior is a challenge. This study aimed to characterize the relationship between environmental health knowledge and behavior in youth across different ages. Methods: A cross-sectional survey with quantitative (Likert-scale) and qualitative (open-ended) questions was administered to 452 youth aged 9-18 from three schools. Participants were grouped into three age bands (9-11, 12-14, 15-18). Analyses included descriptive statistics, correlation assessments, and thematic analysis of open-ended responses. Key Results: Participants demonstrated moderate knowledge (mean score 66.2% ± 20.6), with older groups scoring higher than the youngest. However, behavior scores were significantly lower (mean 29.03% ± 27.7) and only weakly correlated with knowledge (r=0.22, p<0.001). Qualitative analysis showed participants frequently identified air pollution as a concern but rarely linked environmental issues to their local community or personal health. Fewer than 7% provided a "very good" definition of health including physical, mental, and social domains. Participation in environment-related classes or activities was significantly associated with higher scores in knowledge, behavior, attitudes, and self-efficacy. Limitations: The study used a convenience sample from well-resourced schools, limiting generalizability. The cross-sectional design cannot establish causality. The survey instrument, adapted from a tool for younger children, may not be optimally sensitive across all age groups. Implications: Findings indicate that environmental health knowledge alone is insufficient to drive behavior change. Targeted, locally relevant education programs that connect environment to personal health and build self-efficacy may be necessary to bridge the gap between knowledge and action.
