Akerlof Karen L, Delamater Paul L, Boules Caroline R, Upperman Crystal R, Mitchell Clifford S
Center for Climate Change Communication, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA.
Department of Geography and GeoInformation Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2015 Dec 4;12(12):15419-33. doi: 10.3390/ijerph121214994.
Climate change is already taking a toll on human health, a toll that is likely to increase in coming decades. The relationship between risk perceptions and vulnerability to climate change's health threats has received little attention, even though an understanding of the dynamics of adaptation among particularly susceptible populations is becoming increasingly important. We demonstrate that some people whose health will suffer the greatest harms from climate change-due to social vulnerability, health susceptibility, and exposure to hazards-already feel they are at risk. In a 2013 survey we measured Maryland residents' climate beliefs, health risk perceptions, and household social vulnerability characteristics, including medical conditions (n = 2126). We paired survey responses with secondary data sources for residence in a floodplain and/or urban heat island to predict perceptions of personal and household climate health risk. General health risk perceptions, political ideology, and climate beliefs are the strongest predictors. Yet, people in households with the following characteristics also see themselves at higher risk: members with one or more medical conditions or disabilities; low income; racial/ethnic minorities; and residence in a floodplain. In light of these results, climate health communication among vulnerable populations should emphasize protective actions instead of risk messages.
气候变化已经在对人类健康造成损害，而且在未来几十年这种损害可能会加剧。尽管了解特别易感人群的适应动态变得越来越重要，但风险认知与气候变化对健康威胁的脆弱性之间的关系却很少受到关注。我们证明，一些因社会脆弱性、健康易感性和接触危害而健康将遭受气候变化最大危害的人，已经觉得自己处于危险之中。在2013年的一项调查中，我们测量了马里兰州居民的气候信念、健康风险认知以及家庭社会脆弱性特征，包括医疗状况（n = 2126）。我们将调查回复与居住在洪泛区和/或城市热岛的二级数据源进行配对，以预测个人和家庭气候健康风险认知。一般健康风险认知、政治意识形态和气候信念是最强的预测因素。然而，具有以下特征的家庭中的人也认为自己面临更高的风险：有一名或多名患有医疗状况或残疾的成员；低收入；少数种族/族裔；以及居住在洪泛区。鉴于这些结果，针对脆弱人群的气候健康宣传应强调保护行动而非风险信息。
