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 Printable version |
Consumption of tap water, perceived health and beliefs in health and illness |
Environnement, Risques & Santé. Volume 11, Number 3, 212-20, Mai-Juin 2012, Article original
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 Résumé
Article gratuit
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Author(s) : Lolita Rubens, Jeanne Le Roy, Liliane Rioux |
Summary : Since 1989, tap water consumption has decreased continuously in France. Both objective and subjective variables might explain this trend. We thus considered the potential impact of perceived health, confidence in tap-water quality, and risk-taking on this consumption. This study adopts a psychosocial perspective to (a) explore the links existing between the perception French residents have of tap water and their consumption of it, and (b) analyse the impact of psychosocial variables on attitudes and behavior towards tap water. One hundred seven subjects aged 17 to 66 years completed a survey including socio-demographic questions, scales (beliefs about health and illness, perceived health) and questionnaires created for the study (tap water consumption, confidence in tap water, risk-taking, and knowledge about the water supply). Tap water consumption was divided into two factors, consumption at home (6 questions) and consumption outside the home (4 questions)\; these two factors explained 67% of the total variance. Knowledge about the water supply was a key element in understanding tap water consumption (
β \=.27,
p<\;.01). The relation between knowledge and consumption is mediated by the trust the French have in tap water (
β \=.68,
p<\;.001). Therefore, to increase public awareness and use of tap water, it is essential to provide reassuring information to make them have confidence in tap water. |
Keywords : drinking, health, knowledge, tap water, trust |
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