Background: Climate change is an increasing public health concern, with growing evidence linking climate change anxiety to health behaviors. Message framing (loss-framed, gain-framed, neutral) is a key strategy in behavioral medicine that may influence both emotional responses and environmentally related health behaviors, including menstrual product choices. Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effects of message framing strategies on women's climate change anxiety, attitudes toward environmental sustainability of menstrual products, and menstrual product preference tendencies. Keywords: Menstrual Hygiene Products, climate change, message framing, eco-anxiety, environmental sustainability, women's health
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
246
A standardized text-based message emphasizing the benefits of reusable and sustainable menstrual products for environmental protection, individual health, and long-term economic savings. The message exposure lasted approximately 2-3 minutes.
A standardized text-based message highlighting the environmental and health-related risks associated with disposable and plastic-containing menstrual products, including plastic waste, microplastics, carbon footprint, and ecological harm. The message exposure lasted approximately 2-3 minutes.
A standardized text-based neutral message describing disposable and reusable menstrual products, product materials, waste generation, accessibility, cost, comfort, and user-related factors without emotional gain or loss framing.
Ankara Medipol Üniversitesi
Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)
Climate Change Anxiety Score
Climate change anxiety was measured using the Climate Change Anxiety Scale. The scale consists of 10 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 to 4. Total scores range from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating higher levels of climate change anxiety.
Time frame: Immediately after message exposure, in the same online survey session
Environmental Sustainability Attitude Toward Menstrual Products
Environmental sustainability attitude toward menstrual products was assessed using the Menstrual Product Preference and Environmental Sustainability Questionnaire. The total score ranges from 0 to 48, with higher scores indicating greater environmental sustainability orientation toward menstrual product use.
Time frame: Immediately after message exposure, in the same online survey session
Environmental Awareness Score
Environmental awareness was assessed using the environmental awareness subdimension of the Menstrual Product Preference and Environmental Sustainability Questionnaire. Higher scores indicate greater awareness of the environmental impact of menstrual products.
Time frame: Immediately after message exposure, in the same online survey session
Sustainable Menstrual Product Preference Score
Sustainable menstrual product preference was assessed using the product preference subdimension of the Menstrual Product Preference and Environmental Sustainability Questionnaire. Higher scores indicate stronger intention or tendency to choose environmentally sustainable menstrual products.
Time frame: Immediately after message exposure, in the same online survey session
Accessibility and Information-Seeking Score
Accessibility and information-seeking were assessed using the accessibility and information-seeking subdimension of the Menstrual Product Preference and Environmental Sustainability Questionnaire. Higher scores indicate greater perceived access to sustainable menstrual products and greater willingness to seek information.
Time frame: Immediately after message exposure, in the same online survey session
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