Pessimism or optimism? A tri-spatial analysis of public risk perception bias and its influencing mechanisms
Evidence from 31 major cities in China
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22070444 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Li Wang (0000-0002-3460-2080, China University of Mining and Technology), Yiming Wang (0000-0002-9114-1540, China University of Mining and Technology), Yuxuan Wang (0000-0001-5549-3584, China University of Mining and Technology), Minchun Wu (China University of Mining and Technology, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Pages | 1705187-1705187 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-16 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1705187 |
| PMID | 41778138 |
| OpenAlex | W7129104393 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 69 |
Background: Public risk perception bias (PRPB) is a critical psychological and social determinant that substantially shapes public health outcomes and the effectiveness of safety governance-particularly during large-scale crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Amid increasingly complex urban risk landscapes, traditional single/dual-spatial frameworks fail to capture PRPB's multi-source and interactive nature. Methods: This study develops an Extended Tri-Spatial Prism Model to measure PRPB across 31 major Chinese cities (2017-2023) using multi-source data and explores its spatiotemporal dynamics and multi-level influencing mechanisms via a mixed-methods approach (Delphi technique, entropy weighting, GIS spatial analysis, multiple regression, mediation analysis). Results: (1) PRPB is dominated by pessimism with marked tri-spatial heterogeneity-physical and cyber spaces show pronounced pessimism, while social space remains cognitively neutral; (2) PRPB exhibits a "north-optimistic, south-pessimistic" spatial pattern and a COVID-19-disrupted V-shaped temporal trend (2017-2023); (3) Individual and urban factors shape PRPB through the mediation of psychological stress, social capital, media rationality, and government trust. Conclusion: This study advances the theoretical understanding of PRPB by systematically delineating its tri-spatial characteristics and underlying mechanisms. These findings provide theoretical insights and practical guidance for optimizing public risk communication systems and urban safety governance frameworks
China · Corporate governance · Perception · Pessimism · Poison control · Public health · Risk perception · Data-Driven Disease Surveillance · Disaster Management and Resilience · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Risk Perception and Management
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| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |