Modeling Risk Perceptions, Benefit Perceptions, and Approval of Releasing Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes as a Response to Zika Virus

ABSTRACT

Public opinion regarding genetic control of infectious disease vectors such as mosquitoes varies in part because the underlying risk and benefit perceptions about novel gene editing and genetic engineering (GE) techniques are multi-faceted. We designed a survey of the US population (N = 1137) to unpack some of those complexities. Of particular interest was modeling the constituent attitudes and perceptions that contribute to individuals’ approval or disapproval of releasing GE mosquitoes to prevent the spread of Zika virus, including deference to scientific authority, Zika issue involvement, Zika concern, Zika knowledge, GE food approval, GE mosquito risk perceptions, and GE mosquito benefit perceptions. Deference to scientific authority and GE mosquito benefit perceptions had the largest influences on GE mosquito approval, while several other concepts had smaller influences. We discuss the societal relevance of these findings as well as their relevance to theory and stakeholder communication.

KEYWORDS:

• GMO
• risk perception
• genetic engineering
• Zika
• risk communication
• structural equation modeling

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 Of course, mosquitoes are a severe risk in parts of the US. There are 1,906 vector control organizations in the country, and in a recent survey 68% of the 1,076 organizations who responded reported performing chemical abatement (Alleyne & Gridley-Smith, 2017). Nonetheless, mosquito control officials report low public awareness and apathy toward their efforts (Moise, Zulu, Fuller, & Beier, 2018). In our survey, 9% of respondents were aware of aerial insecticide use in their area in the last year, and 19% of respondents were aware of ground-level insecticide use.

2 Either AVE > .50 or, if AVE < .50, ρ_c ≥ .60.

3 Each latent factor’s AVE > than its highest squared correlation with all other latent factors.

4 We used absolute values for this comparison because the two paths have opposite signs and we were interested in strength of the relationship, irrespective of direction.

5 See Hmielowski, Donaway, and Wang (2018) for a relevant perspective on construal level, response efficacy, and conservation attitudes/behaviors.

6 See also Lamphere and East’s (2017) discourse analysis of Monsanto’s communication strategies.

7 Indeed, GE mosquito manufacturer Oxitec plans to sell their mosquitoes as consumer pest control products in the future pending regulatory approval (Bostick, 2017).