Topic

Supplementary information about electromagnetic hypersensitive persons

Start

01.09.2004

End

30.06.2005

Project Management

KATALYSE Institute for Applied Environmental Research

Objective

The objective of this project was to compile further descriptive information on electrosensitive persons from the point of view of sociodemographic characteristics and other personality traits. This information was to serve as a basis for recommendations for an appropriate information and communication strategy with this group of persons. It is part of BfS' precautionary strategy to improve the communication with and information of this group who is particularly affected by mobile telecommunications.

The study used quantitative and qualitative methods to gain information on the innate character and information requirements of this group of persons. On the basis of these findings recommendations were developed for improving communication with electrosensitive persons.

It was not the objective of this study to comment on the existence or the causes of electrosensitivity or to judge if the statements made by the interviewed persons were true or false. This project rather focuses on the subjective point of view, irrespective of the question if EMF dangers or electrosensitivity are empirically detectable phenomena or not.

Results

1. Methods and approach

This study considers such persons as electrosensitive who see the origin of certain physical disorders which can be described precisely and which have occurred more than once in the existence of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields (EMF).

Two surveys were performed, a quantitative survey focussing on sociodemographic and psychometric data and a qualitative, psychological survey. As a first step, the prevalence of the target group among the total population was established with the help of a representative telephone survey, which also served to gain further information on electrosensitivity. 40 test persons were examined in morphological depth interviews in order to discover how people deal with the phenomenon of "electrosensitivity" on a psychological basis. The results of these surveys together with an integration concept developed for this project helped elaborate recommendations for the communication with electrosensitive persons.

2. Demography and quantitative psychography

Prevalence: The quantitative electrosensitivity study included telephone interviews with 2,406 people in the framework of a representative nationwide survey. With the help of predetermined criteria according to the above cited working definition, a quota of 6 % of electrosensitive persons was determined among the total population of Germany. This value matches with the values established by international research results and estimations made by different stakeholders’ groups ranging from 1.5 % to 10 %.

The persons questioned were not confronted with the term "electrosensitive" until the end of the interview. In fact, roughly half of the persons affected are familiar with this term. Only a third of the persons interviewed who are aware of this term described themselves as "electrosensitive".

With respect to sociodemographic characteristics, the group of electrosensitive people does not differ considerably from the total population in their age, sex, the size of their households or the distribution between East and West Germany. There are, however, differences between electrosensitive people and the total population with respect to their education and their regional distribution. The quota of 26 % of persons with German A-levels qualification (Abitur) shows that electrosensitive people have a higher education standard than the average population (15 %). Furthermore, a regional accumulation of electrosensitive people was found in the southwestern part of Germany (34 % of the electrosensitive).

Roughly half of the electrosensitive persons interviewed (49 %) reported earlier health problems, which did not exist by the time of the interview, while 51 % reported current health problems.

Among all potential sources for these health problems mobile phones were most frequently quoted (30 % of the persons surveyed), followed by TV sets (22 %), radio alarm clocks (19 %) and mobile phone base stations (17 %). The sources mentioned vary in their significance to the persons affected, depending on the fact if their health problems currently exist or not. While approximately 40 % of the persons still suffering from health problems cite mobile phones or mobile base stations as main source of influence, only 28 % of those without current health problems quote the same source. At the same time, 25 % of electrosensitive persons without current health problems mention their radio alarm clocks as most significant source, while this is hardly important (quota of 1 %) for electrosensitive persons suffering from acute health problems.

Type and intensity of the health problems vary depending on the source of radiation. Radiation sources from more recent technologies are considered to have relatively lower disturbing effects (high-voltage pylons, e.g., are on average thought to have stronger effects than mobile phones). The group of electrosensitive people does not fundamentally restrict the use of electronic devices, which could be a hint for a general aversion against technologies. The rate of mobile phone owners determined in the surveys is even higher in the group of electrosensitive people than in the average of the population (87 % vs. 78 %), whereas the mobile phone use behaviour is comparable in both groups.

A successful communication with the target group depends on the status of information and the informational behaviour of the target group with respect to the subject of EMF/electrosensitivity. 17 % of the electrosensitive people feel uninformed about the health effects of EMF, half of this group feels at least partly informed and one third considers themselve to be fairly well or even very well informed. Mass media such as newspapers/magazines and/or television/radio are the most commonly used sources of information. 71 % (newspapers/magazines) and 68 % (television/radio) of the persons interviewed have gathered information about electromagnetic fields from these sources. The group of electrosensitive people does not differ from the total population in their informational behaviour. 63 % of the electrosensitive people have considered to take precautionary measures or have actively taken such measures.

3. Results: qualitative psychography

40 test persons chosen among the 167 electrosensitive people identified during the first phase of the survey were invited for detailed interviews and were questioned on how they treated the phenomenon of electrosensitivity psychologically.

Depth interviews revealed in more detail the personal significance of radiation in the context of the selected persons’ everyday lives. The electrosensitive people questioned proved to be a heterogeneous group. Electrosensitivity appears to be a subject which takes on many different forms, and many of the people interviewed found themselves time and again in an internal conflict relating to this phenomenon. Only in rare cases were "symptoms" and "triggers" clearly linked (i.e. always if..., then...) – which would be usual in standardised surveys. The interviews do not portray "electrosensitivity" as a fixed and isolated fact in the everyday lives of the persons interviewed.

4. Recommendations for communication

With respect to the communication requirements voiced by the electrosensitive people questioned, two central factors were identified which might help to improve the communication with this target group: "relevance for their everyday lives" and "confidence". On the basis of these suggestions, recommendations have been elaborated for four levels of action in the communication with electrosensitive people (individual, political, institutional, communicational).

The final report is available as PDF-file (1,080 kb) in German.

Conclusions

The results of the quantitative and qualitative survey performed in the framework of this project provide more detailed findings of persons who see the origin of certain physical disorders in the existence of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields (EMF). According to the working definition, this group is considered as electrosensitive persons. The study also reveals, however, that only a small part of this group declares themselves to be "electrosensitive". The important factor is rather their handling and/or the significance of "radiation" in the context of their everyday lives, irrespective of terms and definitions.

The findings obtained are an important basis for improving the communication with people who feel impaired. They also help to adapt the way information is offered to the particular needs of this group of people.