Protection Motivation Theory and Environmental Health Behaviors: A Systematic Mapping

This study aimed to explore the themes and parameters of environmental health behaviors based on Rogers' protection motivation theory through a systematic mapping review. Using a systematic approach, a literature review was conducted of articles that adopted Rogers' protection motivation theory. A total of 11 articles on protection motivation theory using participants and environmental health as outcomes were identified in a search of CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Eric, PsycARTICLES, PubMed, and RISS between September 1 and September 8, 2021. Themes related to the environment and personal behaviors between 2002 and 2021 were extracted. The parameters based on protection motivation theory were identified through systematic mapping as fear appraisal, rewards of maladaptive response, severity, vulnerability, costs of adaptive response, response efficacy, self-efficacy, and intention. Self-efficacy and response efficacy considerably affected environmental health behaviors. Emotional fear appeal related to environmental hazards motivates an internal process that alters the threat appraisal and their coping appraisal. Environmental behavior perception and intention influenced on environmental health behaviors with small effect sizes. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the severity of environmental health issues could lead to the development of helpful, effective, and intensive interventions to promote healthcare among the vulnerable population.