This study investigates the mediation effects of online public attention on the relationship between air pollution and precautionary behavior based on a merged real-world data set that includes daily air quality,Inter...This study investigates the mediation effects of online public attention on the relationship between air pollution and precautionary behavior based on a merged real-world data set that includes daily air quality,Internet search and media indices,social media discussions,and product purchases.Using a Bayesian structural equation modeling approach,we show that online public attention to air pollution increases when air pollution increases,and such attention is captured by more media reports,social media discussions,and Internet searches.A comprehensive relationship involving direct and indirect effects between air pollution and precautionary behavior is established.Air pollution has a positive effect on proactive defensive behaviors,reflected in increased purchases of preventive products,and this effect is partially mediated by online media coverage and the public's Internet searches.Air pollution also motivates passive defensive behaviors,reflected in decreased purchases of outdoor sports products,and this effect is partially mediated by social media coverage.These results suggest that governments could improve the quality of policy making by considering the different roles of various forms of online public attention in the public's risk perceptions of and reactions to air pollution.展开更多
基金Dr.Xu and Dr.Feng contributed equally to this work.Dr.Xu's work was partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(71704052 and 72074072)the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province,China(2018JJ3263)+5 种基金the Research Foundation of Education Bureau of Hunan Province,China(18B334)Dr.Feng's work was partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(71802166)the Humanities and Social Science Foundation of the Ministry of Education of China(20YJC630055)Dr.Li's work was partially supported by the LamWoo Research Fund(LWI20005)Faculty Research Grant(DB20A3 and DB21A7)Direct Grant(DR21B3).
文摘This study investigates the mediation effects of online public attention on the relationship between air pollution and precautionary behavior based on a merged real-world data set that includes daily air quality,Internet search and media indices,social media discussions,and product purchases.Using a Bayesian structural equation modeling approach,we show that online public attention to air pollution increases when air pollution increases,and such attention is captured by more media reports,social media discussions,and Internet searches.A comprehensive relationship involving direct and indirect effects between air pollution and precautionary behavior is established.Air pollution has a positive effect on proactive defensive behaviors,reflected in increased purchases of preventive products,and this effect is partially mediated by online media coverage and the public's Internet searches.Air pollution also motivates passive defensive behaviors,reflected in decreased purchases of outdoor sports products,and this effect is partially mediated by social media coverage.These results suggest that governments could improve the quality of policy making by considering the different roles of various forms of online public attention in the public's risk perceptions of and reactions to air pollution.
