Information seeking and information avoidance about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination: knowledge, personal control, or affect?

Applying the risk information seeking and processing (RISP) model, this study explores the antecedents to information seeking and information avoidance about a relatively novel risk–per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. Based on an experimental survey, we found that current knowledge, informational subjective norms, and risk perception are positively related to information seeking and information avoidance. Perceived personal control is positively related to information avoidance, but not related to information seeking. Fear is positively related to information seeking, but sadness is not related to either seeking or avoidance. Lastly, information seeking and information avoidance are associated with preventive behaviors related to PFAS contamination in the opposite direction.