The driving influences of human perception to extreme heat: A scoping review

Prior research demonstrates a link between heat risk perception and population response to a heat warning. Communicating a precise and understandable definition of heat or heatwaves can affect how a population perceives and responds to extreme heat. Still, little is known about how heat perception affects behavior changes to heat and heat communication across diverse populations. This scoping review aims to identify and describe the main themes and findings of recent heat perception research globally and map critical research gaps and priorities for future studies. Results revealed risk perception influences a person's exposure to and behavioral response to excessive heat. Risk perception varied geographically along the rural-urban continuum and was typically higher among vulnerable subgroups, including populations who were low-income, minority, and in poor health. A more integrated approach to refining risk communication strategies that result in a behavioral change and incorporates the individual, social, and cultural components of impactful group-based or communitywide interventions is needed. Research employing longitudinal or quasi-experimental designs and advanced statistical techniques are required to tease apart the independent and interacting factors that causally influence risk communication, heat perception, and adaptive behaviors. We advance a framework to conceptualize the structural, environmental, personal, and social drivers of population heat risk perception and how they interact to influence heat perception and adaptive behaviors. Our findings map future research priorities needed for heat perception and a framework to drive future research design.

Automated summary

Research has shown a link between heat risk perception and population response to heat warnings. Precisely communicating the definition of heat or heatwaves can impact how a population perceives and responds to extreme heat. The study highlights the need for a more integrated approach to refine risk communication strategies for behavior change and to better understand the factors influencing risk perception and adaptive behaviors.