{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,17]],"date-time":"2026-03-17T04:54:21Z","timestamp":1773723261855,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2017,6,8]],"date-time":"2017-06-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1496880000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>An implicit assumption of risk perception studies is that concerns expressed in questionnaires reflect concerns in everyday life. The aim of the present study is to check this assumption, i.e., the extrapolability of risk perceptions expressed in a survey, to risk perceptions in everyday life. To that end, risk perceptions were measured by a multidimensional approach. In addition to the traditional focus on measuring the magnitude of risk perceptions, the thematic relevance (how often people think about a risk issue) and the discursive relevance (how often people think about or discuss a risk issue) of risk perceptions were also collected. Taking into account this extended view of risk perception, an online survey was conducted in six European countries with 2454 respondents, referring to radio frequency electromagnetic field (RF EMF) risk potentials from base stations, and access points, such as WiFi routers and cell phones. The findings reveal that the present study\u2019s multidimensional approach to measuring risk perception provides a more differentiated understanding of RF EMF risk perception. High levels of concerns expressed in questionnaires do not automatically imply that these concerns are thematically relevant in everyday life. We use thematic relevance to distinguish between enduringly concerned (high concern according to both questionnaire and thematic relevance) and not enduringly concerned participants (high concern according to questionnaire but no thematic relevance). Furthermore, we provide data for the empirical value of this distinction: Compared to other participants, enduringly concerned subjects consider radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure to a greater extent as a moral and affective issue. They also see themselves as highly exposed to radio frequency electromagnetic fields. However, despite these differences, subjects with high levels of thematic relevance are nevertheless sensitive to exposure reduction as a means for improving the acceptance of base stations in their neighborhood. This underlines the value of exposure reduction for the acceptance of radio frequency electromagnetic field communication technologies.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph14060620","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2017,6,8]],"date-time":"2017-06-08T10:26:09Z","timestamp":1496917569000},"page":"620","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":29,"title":["RF EMF Risk Perception Revisited: Is the Focus on Concern Sufficient for Risk Perception Studies?"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Peter","family":"Wiedemann","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia"},{"name":"Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong Campus, NSW 2522, Australia"},{"name":"Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research, NH&amp;MRC Centre of Research Excellence, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Frederik","family":"Freudenstein","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia"},{"name":"Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong Campus, NSW 2522, Australia"},{"name":"Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research, NH&amp;MRC Centre of Research Excellence, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia"},{"name":"Centre for Population Population Health Research on Electromagnetic Energy, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Christoph","family":"B\u00f6hmert","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Science Communication, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Englerstr. 2 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Joe","family":"Wiart","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chaire C2M, LTCI Telecom ParisTech, Paris Saclay University, 46 Rue Barrault, 75013 Paris, France"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Rodney","family":"Croft","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia"},{"name":"Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong Campus, NSW 2522, Australia"},{"name":"Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research, NH&amp;MRC Centre of Research Excellence, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia"},{"name":"Centre for Population Population Health Research on Electromagnetic Energy, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,6,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1109\/MVT.2014.2312272","article-title":"The Lexnet Project: Wireless Networks and EMF: Paving the Way for Low-EMF Networks of the Future","volume":"9","author":"Tesanovic","year":"2014","journal-title":"IEEE Veh. Technol. Mag."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Espinosa, H.G., Brindley, C., and Thiel, D.V. (2014, January 4\u20136). An assessment of simulation methodologies for the analysis of near-field radiation zones related to human exposure. Proceedings of the IEEE iWAT International Workshop on Antenna Technology, Sydney, Australia.","DOI":"10.1109\/IWAT.2014.6958651"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.1038\/jes.2013.40","article-title":"Electromagnetic field exposure assessment in Europe radiofrequency fields (10 MHz\u20136 GHz)","volume":"25","author":"Ravazzani","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Expos. Sci. Environ. Epidemiol."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"235","DOI":"10.1177\/0893318988002002006","article-title":"Risk Communication: Facing Public Outrage","volume":"2","author":"Sandman","year":"1987","journal-title":"Manag. Commun. Q."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"263","DOI":"10.1002\/bdm.414","article-title":"A domain specific risk-attitude scale: Measuring risk perception and risk behaviors","volume":"15","author":"Weber","year":"2002","journal-title":"J. Behav. Decis. Mak."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"Fischhoff, B., Lichtenstein, S., Slovic, P., Derby, L., and Keeney, R.L. (1981). Acceptable Risk, Camridge University Press."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"146","DOI":"10.1037\/0278-6133.26.2.146","article-title":"Risk perceptions: Assessment and relationship to influenza vaccination","volume":"26","author":"Weinstein","year":"2007","journal-title":"Health Psychol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106","DOI":"10.1037\/a0024787","article-title":"Risk perception measures\u2019 associations with behavior intentions, affect, and cognition following colon cancer screening messages","volume":"31","author":"Dillard","year":"2012","journal-title":"Health Psychol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1539-6924.1998.tb00918.x","article-title":"Risk and worry","volume":"18","year":"1998","journal-title":"Risk Anal."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2233","DOI":"10.1111\/risa.12575","article-title":"Cognitive-Affective Scale for Hurricane Risk Perception","volume":"36","author":"Trumbo","year":"2016","journal-title":"Risk Anal."},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"Eurobarometer TNS Opinion Social (2016, November 14). Eurobarometer 73.3. Electromagnetic Fields. Available online: http:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/public_opinion\/archives\/ebs\/ebs_347_en.pdf."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.1037\/0003-066X.54.2.93","article-title":"Self-reports: How the questions shape the answers","volume":"54","author":"Schwarz","year":"1999","journal-title":"Am. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"481","DOI":"10.1080\/13669870500064150","article-title":"Risk as perceived by the German public: Pervasive risks and \u201cswitching\u201d risks","volume":"8","author":"Zwick","year":"2005","journal-title":"J. Risk Res."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gaskell, G., Hohl, K., and Gerber, M. (2016). Do closed survey questions overestimate public perceptions of food risks?. J. Risk Res.","DOI":"10.1080\/13669877.2016.1147492"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"363","DOI":"10.1177\/1477370808090834","article-title":"Reassessing the Fear of Crime","volume":"5","author":"Gray","year":"2008","journal-title":"Eur. J. Criminol."},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"Sch\u00fctz, A., and Luckmann, T. (1979). Strukturen der Lebenswelt, Suhrkamp."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"Sch\u00fctz, A. (1982). Das Problem der Relevanz. Richard Zaner, Suhrkamp."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1427","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1539-6924.2007.00978.x","article-title":"What Risks Do People Perceive in Everyday Life? A Perspective Gained from the Experience Sampling. (ESM)","volume":"27","author":"Hogarth","year":"2007","journal-title":"Risk Anal."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Andreas, D.C. (2015). Risk Discourse. The International Encyclopedia of Language and Social Interaction, Wiley-Blackwell.","DOI":"10.1002\/9781118611463.wbielsi090"},{"key":"ref_20","unstructured":"Hammond, K.R. (2017, March 15). Ecological Validity: Then and Now. Available online: http:\/\/www.brunswik.org\/notes\/essay2.html."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"198272","DOI":"10.1155\/2015\/198272","article-title":"Exposure perception as a key indicator of risk perception and acceptance of sources of radio frequency electromagnetic fields","volume":"2015","author":"Freudenstein","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Environ. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wiedemann, P.M., Boerner, F., and Claus, F. (2016). How far is how far enough? Safety perception and acceptance of extra-high-voltage power lines in Germany. J. Risk Res.","DOI":"10.1080\/13669877.2016.1220415"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"245","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1539-6924.1983.tb01393.x","article-title":"How close is close enough: Public perceptions of the risks of industrial facilities","volume":"3","author":"Lindell","year":"1983","journal-title":"Risk Anal."},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"European Social Survey (2012). ESS Round 6 Source Questionnaire, Centre for Comparative Social Surveys, City University London. Available online: http:\/\/www.europeansocialsurvey.org."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Freudenstein, F., Wiedemann, P.M., and Varsier, N. (2015). Exposure knowledge and risk perception of RF EMF. Front. Public Health, 2.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2014.00289"},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"Flynn, J., Slovic, P., and Kunreuther, H. (2001). Technological stigma: Some perspectives from the study of contagion. Risk, Media, and Stigma: Understanding Public Challenges to Modern Science and Technology, Earthscan Publications."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"599","DOI":"10.1080\/13669870903236751","article-title":"Risk perception of mobile communication: A mental models approach","volume":"13","author":"Cousin","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Risk Res."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Claassen, L., Bostrom, A., and Timmermans, D.R. (2014). Focal points for improving communications about electromagnetic fields and health: A mental models approach. J. Risk Res.","DOI":"10.1080\/13669877.2014.961519"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Claassen, L., van Dongen, D., and Timmermans, D.R. (2015). Improving lay understanding of exposure to electromagnetic fields; the effect of information on perception of and responses to risk. J. Risk Res.","DOI":"10.1080\/13669877.2015.1031268"}],"container-title":["International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/14\/6\/620\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T18:38:23Z","timestamp":1760207903000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/14\/6\/620"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2017,6,8]]},"references-count":29,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,6]]}},"alternative-id":["ijerph14060620"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph14060620","relation":{},"ISSN":["1660-4601"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1660-4601","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2017,6,8]]}}}