The Effect of Social Norms on Residential Insecticide Use

Simple Summary This study explores how the level of religious observance in Jewish households affects their use of insecticides. The study was motivated by the hypothesis that religiosity increases insecticide use due to insects being a strict taboo in Judaism. By interviewing secular and religious families about their insecticide use and their level of aversion toward cockroaches, the research found that religious participants tended to use more insecticides and had a stronger dislike for cockroaches, despite facing similar levels of exposure to insect pests as non-religious participants. The primary factor driving the intensity of insecticide use was found to be religiosity, with pest exposure also being a significant, but secondary factor. This suggests that religious views categorizing insects as "impure" may encourage the use of insecticides. The findings highlight the importance of understanding cultural attitudes toward insects for devising novel insecticide-reduction initiatives that will be sensitive to the social characteristics that could affect insecticide use in various communities.Abstract Insecticide products are widely used in homes around the world, despite concerns about their adverse health effects. Variations in insecticide use levels can stem not only from differences in environmental conditions, but also from societal factors. This study investigates the impact of religiosity on insecticide use in Jewish households, hypothesizing that religious families might use more insecticides because insects are considered taboo in Judaism. Data from interviews with 70 families, examining their insecticide use, exposure to pests, aversion to cockroaches, and other predisposing factors, revealed that despite similar levels of pest exposure, religious families reported higher insecticide use and greater aversion to cockroaches. Multiple linear regression analysis identified religiosity as the primary predictor of insecticide use, followed by pest exposure levels. The elevated insecticide use among religious Jewish families may stem from several factors, with the Jewish categorization of insects as "impure animals" that should be strictly avoided likely playing a crucial role in promoting insecticide use. Understanding how attitudes toward insects influence insecticide use across different societies is crucial for health and environmental authorities to develop novel insecticide-reduction initiatives that will be tailored to the unique social characteristics of various communities.