Effects of an action-guided intervention on optimistic bias and protective behaviors regarding endocrine disruptors in young women

ABSTRACT

This study examined the effects of an action-guided intervention on reducing optimistic bias about reproductive health problems related to endocrine disruptors and improving protective behaviors against endocrine disruptors. A quasi-experimental design with a nonequivalent comparison group was used with a pretest and double posttest. With a convenience sample of 140 women, 60-minute online education sessions and a 30-minute booster session were provided to seven small groups, while the comparison group received a leaflet. Data were collected at baseline and 4 and 12 weeks post-intervention. Descriptive statistics, repeated-measures ANOVA, and the McNemar test were conducted. A significant difference was found in protective behaviors between the groups (F = 81.21, p < .001). The effects remained consistent over time (F = 59.96, p < .001) and there was an interaction effect of group and time (F = 41.26, p < .001). The proportion of women with optimistic bias about reproductive health problems related to endocrine disruptors was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the comparison group only at 12 weeks post-intervention (χ² = 33.56, p = .031). Accurate knowledge and information should be provided to women to build realistic awareness of the lifestyle-related health problems caused by endocrine disruptors.

KEYWORDS:

• Behavior
• bias
• endocrine disruptors
• optimism
• women

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning [2018R1A2B6001385]