Factors associated with risk perception among school and nursery school teachers concerning potential health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields

Background There is considerable concern in the public about potential health risks from exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) below legal limits. School and nursery school teachers are important multipliers of health-related information, also regarding environmental exposures like EMF. Factors associated with the risk perception towards EMF in these professional groups have not yet been investigated. Methods This 2024 cross-sectional study surveyed school teachers ( N  = 1,053) and nursery school teachers ( N  = 329) across Germany to examine factors associated with participants’ EMF risk perception. We applied logistic regression modelling to examine the relationship between EMF risk perception (high vs. low) and the variables technology acceptance, media health literacy, conspiracy belief, trust in various organizations and institutions as well as general environmental worry. Results About one-third of the participants believed that some individuals develop adverse health effects from EMF exposure below legal limits. Conspiracy belief was positively associated with high EMF risk perception (school teachers: OR: 2.87, 95% CI: 2.36–3.43; nursery school teachers: OR: 2.88, 95% CI: 2.00–4.00). Technology acceptance (school teachers: OR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.39–0.55; nursery school teachers: OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.51–0.89), media health literacy (only in school teachers (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.61–0.82)), and trust in authorities like WHO were inversely associated with EMF risk perception. Conclusion Our findings underline that individuals’ appraisal of scientific evidence, in this case concerning EMF exposure, is related not only to individual skills like media health literacy, but also to personal attitudes like the tendency towards conspiracy beliefs or trust in organizations.