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Peer-reviewedCC BYBioelectromagnetics

Does Knowing More Relate to More Anxiety? Psychological Factors Associated With Anxiety About Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields and the Role of Information Provision in Risk Communication.

  • Ruohan Wen1
  • Sachiko Yamaguchi-Sekino1
  • Masao Taki2
  • Teruo Onishi1
  • Michio Murakami1,3,4
4 affiliations
  1. 1Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory, Radio Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Koganei, Tokyo, Japan.
  2. 2Radio Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Koganei, Tokyo, Japan.
  3. 3Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), The University of Osaka, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
  4. 4EIPM Center, The University of Osaka, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
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Abstract

As radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) become increasingly embedded in everyday life, understanding public responses to RF-EMFs and developing effective risk communication strategies are essential. In this study, we examined the psychological factors associated with anxiety concerning the use of technologies that rely on RF-EMFs and the effects of information provision as a form of risk communication. In the baseline analysis, multilevel modeling of anxiety across six common RF-EMF sources revealed that both subjective exposure perceptions and confidence in those perceptions were independently associated with anxiety. While heightened awareness of RF-EMFs was associated with higher anxiety, more objective knowledge of RF-EMFs was associated with lower anxiety. In the intervention analysis, although information provision increased anxiety overall, it reduced anxiety among those with initially high levels of concern. It also affected a range of related cognitive factors, including subjective exposure perceptions, confidence in those perceptions, awareness, and knowledge. These findings demonstrate the complex psychological impact of information provision on anxiety about RF-EMFs and related cognitive factors and provide practical insights for designing more effective risk communication strategies.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{wen2026does,
  title = {{Does Knowing More Relate to More Anxiety? Psychological Factors Associated With Anxiety About Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields and the Role of Information Provision in Risk Communication.}},
  author = {Ruohan Wen and Sachiko Yamaguchi-Sekino and Masao Taki and Teruo Onishi and Michio Murakami},
  journal = {Bioelectromagnetics},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1002/bem.70070},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42895297},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Does Knowing More Relate to More Anxiety? Psychological Factors Associated With Anxiety About Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields and the Role of Information Provision in Risk Communication.
AU  - Ruohan Wen
AU  - Sachiko Yamaguchi-Sekino
AU  - Masao Taki
AU  - Teruo Onishi
AU  - Michio Murakami
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - Bioelectromagnetics
DO  - 10.1002/bem.70070
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42895297
AB  - As radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) become increasingly embedded in everyday life, understanding public responses to RF-EMFs and developing effective risk communication strategies are essential. In this study, we examined the psychological factors associated with anxiety concerning the use of technologies that rely on RF-EMFs and the effects of information provision as a form of risk communication. In the baseline analysis, multilevel modeling of anxiety across six common RF-EMF sources revealed that both subjective exposure perceptions and confidence in those perceptions were independently associated with anxiety. While heightened awareness of RF-EMFs was associated with higher anxiety, more objective knowledge of RF-EMFs was associated with lower anxiety. In the intervention analysis, although information provision increased anxiety overall, it reduced anxiety among those with initially high levels of concern. It also affected a range of related cognitive factors, including subjective exposure perceptions, confidence in those perceptions, awareness, and knowledge. These findings demonstrate the complex psychological impact of information provision on anxiety about RF-EMFs and related cognitive factors and provide practical insights for designing more effective risk communication strategies.
SN  - 0197-8462
SN  - 1521-186X
ER  -