1746 - THOSE REPORTING SENSITIVITY TO RF-EMF FROM 5G TECHNOLOGY OVERESTIMATE THE PREVALENCE OF THEIR CONDITION: EVIDENCE FROM 11 COUNTRIES

Session: D04S015 - Communication & Influence 2
AUTHORS:
Vitale Valeria (Urban and Environmental Psychology, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ~ Vienna ~ Austria) , Vaupotic Nina (Urban and Environmental Psychology, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ~ Vienna ~ Austria) , Abeln Franca (Urban and Environmental Psychology, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ~ Vienna ~ Austria) , Grellier James (European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK ~ Exeter ~ United Kingdom) , Martin Leanne (European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK ~ Exeter ~ United Kingdom) , Bohmert Christoph (Department for Social Sciences, IU International University of Applied Sciences, Erfurt, Germany ~ Erfurt ~ Germany) , Link Sarah (Department for Social Sciences, IU International University of Applied Sciences, Erfurt, Germany ~ Erfurt ~ Germany) , Guxens Monica (Barcelona Institute of Global Health (ISGlobal) ~ Barcelona ~ Spain) , Polanska Kinga (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Hazards, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland ~ Lodz ~ Poland) , Goszczynska Eliza (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Hazards, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland ~ Lodz ~ Poland) , Kojimahara Noriko (Department of Epidemiology, Shizuoka Graduate University of Public Health, Shizuoka, Japan ~ Shizuoka ~ Japan) , White Mathew (Urban and Environmental Psychology, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ~ Vienna ~ Austria)
Abstract text:
Introduction. Electromagnetic hypersensitivity is characterized by individuals attributing a range of non-specific symptoms, such as headaches or fatigue, to exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from sources including radio frequency (RF) EMF from 5G technologies. Despite the lack of credible evidence supporting causal relationship between EMF exposure and these symptoms, concerns about technologies can nevertheless result in tangible negative health outcomes.
Purpose. This study examines the self-reported prevalence of sensitivity to EMFs from 5G technology, and general population beliefs about such sensitivity. Specifically, we investigated whether individuals over- or underestimate its prevalence, whether misperceptions differ between those reporting sensitivity and those not, and the role of media and discursive engagement in shaping these perceptions.
Methods. As part of the GOLIAT project (https://projectgoliat.eu/), an online survey (2023) with over 11,000 participants was conducted across 11 countries. Respondents reported whether they considered themselves particularly sensitive to RF-EMFs from 5G technologies and provided estimates of the percentage of the population they believe to be affected. Misperception scores were calculated as the difference between estimated and actual self-reported prevalence within each country.
Results. Overall, 18.9% of participants reported being particularly sensitive to 5G-related EMFs. Average estimated prevalence in the general population by those who did report no such sensitivity was fairly accurate (20.7%), while those who considered themselves sensitive reported a much higher estimated prevalence (52.1%). Multi-level analyses confirmed systematic group differences and additional cross-country variability (e.g. overestimation was most pronounced in Poland, Spain, and Austria, while Slovenia showed underestimation). Both media use and discursive engagement were positively associated with higher prevalence estimates.
Conclusions. Findings provide evidence that individuals reporting sensitivity to EMFs from 5G technology considerably overestimate the prevalence of such condition in the general population, underscoring the role of social and cognitive heuristics in shaping perceptions of emerging technologies.