APPLICATION OF A MODIFIED HEALTH BELIEF MODEL TO THE PRO-ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOR OF PRIVATE WELL WATER TESTING

A social cognition model of health behavior, the health belief model, was applied to the pro-environmental behavior of private well water testing. Conceptualizing environmental behaviors as health behaviors may provide new insight into pro-environmental behavior change. A groundwater education program was provided to K-12 children throughout New England. Both child participants and their parents completed surveys pertaining to private well water behavior. Results indicate that perceived barriers and socioeconomic status significantly influenced past well water testing of parent participants. Perceived barriers included: participants' concern related to the cost of treating their water, and how a well water problem would influence their property value. Parent participants also indicated that they would perform future well water testing if they received a reminder cue to action that might include: getting a discount or reminder in the mail, if a well testing program was available, and state or local requirement. Our findings reinforce the need for continued private well water research and parallels to additional environmental behaviors.