Safety Behavior Predictors Related to the Food Safety of Greenhouse Products among the Greenhouse Owners Based on Protection Motivation Theory

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the safety behavior predictors related to the food safety of greenhouse products among the greenhouse owners of Jiroft city based on the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a descriptive-correlation approach in 2018 on 228 greenhouse owners. A researcher-made questionnaire that included demographic variables, PMT structures, and safety behavior was administered. Results: Of the surveyed greenhouse owners, 98.2% were men. The participants were aged from 21 to 70 years. The mean scores of all PMT constructs other than response costs, and safety behaviors other than that of preventing the prevalence of pests were at a moderate level. The prediction rate of safety behaviors by PMT constructs was 74.4%. Meanwhile, perceived costs' construct (β = −0.349), response efficacy (β = 0.251), and protection motivation (β = 0.424) had important roles. Conclusion: Given the predictive power of PMT constructs for safety behaviors related to food safety, educational interventions based on this theory are required. © 2021 Faryabi et al.