Factors related to preventive measures towards PM2.5 exposure: A systematic review

Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) exposure is a growing public concern that needs effective preventive measures. Adopting preventive measures plays a vital role in determining one's actions. This study systematically analyzed the factors related to preventive measures towards PM_2.5 exposure. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. A total of ten relevant studies were included in the study. The systematic review demonstrated that personal attitude towards PM_2.5, perceived behavioral control, perceived risk, and subjective norms consistently had the most substantial impact on the intention to adopt preventive measures. Moreover, negative emotions, social norms, and educational level were also significant factors supported by consistent evidence across studies. Furthermore, perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, perceived sensationalism, perceived norms, subjective norms, institutional trust, self-efficacy, income, desire, and knowledge also played a vital role in adopting preventive measures toward PM_2.5 exposure. The study accentuates numerous approaches to determine an individual's intention in mitigating the effects of PM_2.5 exposure. The interplay between these factors highlights the complexity of PM_2.5 preventive measures. However, the review identified research gaps, including limited longitudinal studies and a need for more focus on actual behavior change beyond intention. Further research should address these gaps to inform more effective interventions for PM_2.5 exposure mitigation at the personal level.