Microplastic Threats: Urban–Rural Differences in Knowledge, Risk, and Psychosocial Factors among Households
Abstract
Introduction: Microplastic pollution has emerged as an increasingly urgent environmental problem, highlighting the need to better understand the psychological and social factors that encourage households to engage in pro-environmental behavior. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior, this study examines how microplastic knowledge, risk perception, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control shape pro-environmental intentions among urban and rural housewives, extending TPB by integrating knowledge and risk perception.
Methods: A quantitative research design was applied by distributing structured questionnaires to 600 respondents, comprising 300 urban and 300 rural housewives in Bogor City and Bogor Regency. Data analysis involved independent t-tests to identify differences between the two groups, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to examine the causal relationships among the studied variables.
Results: The results show significant urban–rural differences in microplastic knowledge, risk perception, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, while attitudes and pro-environmental behavioral intentions are relatively similar across contexts. In urban areas, knowledge significantly influences risk perception, whereas attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control predict pro-environmental behavioral intention. In rural areas, risk perception and perceived behavioral control are the main predictors, with no direct effect of knowledge.
Conclusion: Overall, knowledge alone is insufficient to promote pro-environmental behavioral intention. Instead, behavioral intentions follow context-specific pathways, driven primarily by attitudinal and normative factors in urban areas and by risk awareness and perceived behavioral control in rural settings.
References
Jambeck JR, Geyer R, Wilcox C, Siegler TR, Perryman M, Andrady A, et al. Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science (1979). 2015 Feb 13;347(6223):768–71. Available from: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1260352
UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme). National Plastic Waste Reduction Strategic Actions for Indonesia [Internet]. Ratnawati RV, Tahar N, Sidik US, Onogawa K, Dickella Gamaralalage PJ, Makoto T, et al., editors. Jakarta: Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia; 2020 [cited 2025 Nov 28]. Available from: https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/32898/NPWRSI.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
SIPSN (Sistem Informasi Pengelolaan Sampah Nasional). 2024. Capaian kinerja pengelolaan sampah tahun 2024. Available from: https://sipsn.menlhk.go.id/sipsn/
Muchlissin SI, Widyananto PA, Sabdono A, Radjasa OK. Kelimpahan mikroplastik pada sedimen ekosistem terumbu di Taman Nasional Laut Karimunjawa. Jurnal Kelautan Tropis. 2020 Dec 26;24(1):1–6. Available from: https://doi.org/10.14710/jkt.v24i1.9865
Ahmet Miraç B, Fato? U. The effect of environmental health education on microplastic pollution awareness. Public Health Nurs. 2024 Jul 13;41(4):760–7. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.13322
Paripurna A. 2025. Studi: Masyarakat Indonesia konsumsi mikroplastik 15 gram per bulan. Katadata Green. Available from: https://green.katadata.co.id/berita/6667d9e46da03/studi-masyarakat-indonesia-konsumsi-mikroplastik-15-gram-per-bulan
Abbasi S, Turner A. Human exposure to microplastics: A study in Iran. J Hazard Mater. 2021 Feb;403:123799. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123799
Leslie HA, van Velzen MJM, Brandsma SH, Vethaak AD, Garcia-Vallejo JJ, Lamoree MH. Discovery and quantification of plastic particle pollution in human blood. Environ Int. 2022 May;163:107199. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107199
Ragusa A, Notarstefano V, Svelato A, Belloni A, Gioacchini G, Blondeel C, et al. Raman microspectroscopy detection and characterisation of microplastics in human breastmilk. Polymers (Basel). 2022 Jun 30;14(13):2700. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14132700
Zhao Q, Zhu L, Weng J, Jin Z, Cao Y, Jiang H, et al. Detection and characterization of microplastics in the human testis and semen. Science of The Total Environment. 2023 Jun;877:162713. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162713
Massardo S, Verzola D, Alberti S, Caboni C, Santostefano M, Eugenio Verrina E, et al. MicroRaman spectroscopy detects the presence of microplastics in human urine and kidney tissue. Environ Int. 2024 Feb;184:108444. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2024.108444
Deng L, Cai L, Sun F, Li G, Che Y. Public attitudes towards microplastics: Perceptions, behaviors and policy implications. Resour Conserv Recycl. 2020 Dec;163:105096. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105096
Oleksiuk K, Krupa-Kotara K, Wypych-?lusarska A, G?ogowska-Ligus J, Spycha?a A, S?owi?ski J. Microplastic in food and water: Current knowledge and awareness of consumers. Nutrients. 2022 Nov 17;14(22):4857. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14224857
Felipe-Rodriguez M, Böhm G, Doran R. What does the public think about microplastics? Insights from an empirical analysis of mental models elicited through free associations. Front Psychol. 2022 Aug 3;13.
Hossain MdS. People’s attitudes regarding plastics and microplastics pollution: Perceptions, behaviors, and policy implications. Mar Policy. 2024 Jul;165:106219. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.920454
Zeng Z, Zhong W, Naz S. Can environmental knowledge and risk perception make a difference? The role of environmental concern and pro-environmental behavior in fostering sustainable consumption behavior. Sustainability. 2023 Mar 8;15(6):4791. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15064791
Yoon A, Jeong D, Chon J. The impact of the risk perception of ocean microplastics on tourists’ pro-environmental behavior intention. Science of The Total Environment. 2021 Jun;774:144782. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144782
Kramm J, Steinhoff S, Werschmöller S, Völker B, Völker C. Explaining risk perception of microplastics: Results from a representative survey in Germany. Global Environmental Change. 2022 Mar;73:102485. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2022.102485
Heidbreder LM, Steinhorst J, Schmitt M. Plastic-free July: An experimental study of limiting and promoting factors in encouraging a reduction of single-use plastic consumption. Sustainability. 2020 Jun 9;12(11):4698. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114698
Lee G, Jung J, Moon S, Jung J, Jhang K. Microscopic image dataset with segmentation and detection labels for microplastic analysis in sewage: Enhancing research and environmental monitoring. Microplastics. 2024 May 17;3(2):264–75. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/microplastics3020016
Ajzen I. The theory of planned behavior. Organ Behav Hum Decis Process. 1991 Dec;50(2):179–211. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T
Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS). 2023. Jumlah timbunan sampah menurut kecamatan. Available from: https://bogorkab.bps.go.id/id/statistics-table/2/MjAyIzI=/jumlah-timbunan-sampah-menurut-kecamatan.html
Febriana K, Wahjuni S, Ismayana A. Optimasi distribusi truk pengangkut sampah menggunakan algoritma genetika pada sistem pengelolaan sampah Kota Bogor. Jurnal Teknologi Industri Pertanian. 2019 Dec;29(3):260–8. Available from: https://doi.org/10.24961/j.tek.ind.pert.2019.19.3.260
Omoyajowo KO, Raimi MO, Waleola TO, Odipe OE, Ogunyebi AL. Public health knowledge and perception of microplastics pollution: Lessons from the Lagos Lagoon. 2021. Available from: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-506361/v1
Widayat W, Praharjo A, Putri VP, Andharini SN, Masudin I. Responsible consumer behavior driving factors of pro-environmental behavior toward post-consumption plastic packaging. Sustainability. 2021 Dec 31;14(1):425. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010425
Yusuf SN, Mohd Elias S. Knowledge, perception and practice towards microplastic contamination in human body among community in Ampang, Selangor and the associated sociodemographic factors. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences. 2023 Dec 12;19(s14):56–70. Available from: https://doi.org/10.47836/mjmhs.19.s14.7
Onel N, Mukherjee A. Consumer knowledge in pro-environmental behavior. World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development. 2016 Oct 3;13(4):328–52. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1108/wjstsd-01-2016-0004
Slimak MW, Dietz T. Personal values, beliefs, and ecological risk perception. Risk Analysis. 2006 Dec 15;26(6):1689–705. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.2006.00832.x
Burger J, Greenberg M, Gochfeld M, Shukla S, Lowrie K, Keren R. Factors influencing acquisition of ecological and exposure information about hazards and risks from contaminated sites. Environ Monit Assess. 2008 Feb 11;137(1–3):413–25. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-9777-0
Azmi A, Abdul Rani SI, Mohamad Shaifuddin SN, Rajan S, Masngut MI, Megat Mokhtar MA, et al. Preliminary survey on knowledge and attitudes of university students regarding microplastic pollution and its impact on the environment. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences. 2023 Sep 11;19(5):168–74. Available from: https://doi.org/10.47836/mjmhs19.5.24
Dopelt K, Radon P, Davidovitch N. ). Environmental effects of the livestock industry: The relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and behavior among students in Israel. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Apr 16;16(8):1359. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16081359
Menzel C, Brom J, Heidbreder LM. Explicitly and implicitly measured valence and risk attitudes towards plastic packaging, plastic waste, and microplastic in a German sample. Sustain Prod Consum. 2021 Oct;28:1422–32. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2021.08.016
Liu J, Zhu X, Teng J, Zhao J, Li C, Shan E, et al. Pollution characteristics of microplastics in mollusks from the coastal area of Yantai, China. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2021 Oct 8;107(4):693–9. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-021-03276-7
Prati G, Albanesi C, Pietrantoni L. The interplay among environmental attitudes, pro-environmental behavior, social identity, and pro-environmental institutional climate. A longitudinal study. Environ Educ Res. 2017 Feb 7;23(2):176–91. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2015.1118752
Hynes N, Wilson J. I do it, but don’t tell anyone! Personal values, personal and social norms: Can social media play a role in changing pro-environmental behaviours? Technol Forecast Soc Change. 2016 Oct;111:349–59. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2016.06.034
Völker C, Kramm J, Wagner M. On the creation of risk: Framing of microplastics risks in science and media. Global Challenges. 2020 Jun 31;4(6). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.201900010
Thiele CJ, Hudson MD. Uncertainty about the risks associated with microplastics among lay and topic-experienced respondents. Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 30;11(1):7155. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-86569-5
Zeng J, Jiang M, Yuan M. Environmental risk perception, risk culture, and pro-environmental behavior. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Mar 7;17(5):1750. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051750
Cheng H, Bian Q, Mao Q. How can internet use and environmental risk perception encourage pro-environmental behaviors? The mediating role of government performance perception. Pol J Environ Stud. 2022 Dec 8;31(6):5621–31. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/152225
Lacroix K, Gifford R. Psychological barriers to energy conservation behavior: The role of worldviews and climate change risk perception. Environ Behav. 2018 Aug 23;50(7):749–80. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916517715296
Escario JJ, Rodriguez-Sanchez C, Casaló L V. The influence of environmental attitudes and perceived effectiveness on recycling, reducing, and reusing packaging materials in Spain. Waste Management. 2020 Jul;113:251–60. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.05.043
Raab P, Bogner FX. Conceptions of university students on microplastics in Germany. PLoS One. 2021 Sep 23;16(9):e0257734. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257734
Larson LR, Stedman RC, Cooper CB, Decker DJ. Understanding the multi-dimensional structure of pro-environmental behavior. J Environ Psychol. 2015 Sep;43:112–24. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2015.06.004
Tang H, Ma Y, Ren J. Influencing factors and mechanism of tourists’ pro-environmental behavior – Empirical analysis of the CAC-MOA integration model. Front Psychol. 2022 Nov 28;13. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1060404
Wang B, Li Y. Consumers’ intention to bring a reusable bag for shopping in China: Extending the theory of planned behavior. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Mar 18;19(6):3638. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063638
Wasli SMM, Ling LS, Kiew JP, Ling PS. Kindly enhanced my responsibility and consciousness before asking me to purchase green products. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences. 2022 Aug 26;12(8). Available from: https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v12-i8/14524
Zuo S, Cai P, Huang N, Wang F, Wang P. Population migration damages the natural environment: A multilevel investigation of the relationship between residential mobility and pro-environmental behaviors. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2023 May 2;49(5):758–72. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672221079451
Karimi S, Liobikien? G, Saadi H, Sepahvand F. The influence of media usage on Iranian students’ pro-environmental behaviors: An application of the extended theory of planned behavior. Sustainability. 2021 Jul 25;13(15):8299. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158299
Çöp S, Alola UV, Alola AA. Perceived behavioral control as a mediator of hotels’ green training, environmental commitment, and organizational citizenship behavior: A sustainable environmental practice. Bus Strategy Environ. 2020 Dec 22;29(8):3495–508. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2592
Copyright (c) 2026 Media Publikasi Promosi Kesehatan Indonesia (MPPKI)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with Media Publikasi Promosi Kesehatan Indonesia retain the copyright of their work. The journal applies a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0), which grants the following rights:
-
Copyright Retention: Authors retain the copyright of their work, maintaining full control over their intellectual property without restrictions.
-
Right of First Publication: Authors grant the journal the right of first publication of their work. This ensures that the work is initially published and credited in Media Publikasi Promosi Kesehatan Indonesia.
-
License to Share and Reuse: The work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, allowing others to copy, distribute, remix, and build upon the work for any purpose, even commercially, as long as proper credit is given to the authors, and any new creations are licensed under the same terms.
