Germaphobia! Does Our Relationship With and Knowledge of Biodiversity Affect Our Attitudes Toward Microbes?

Abstract

Germaphobia – a pathological aversion to microorganisms – could be contributing to an explosion in human immune-related disorders via mass sterilization of surfaces and reduced exposure to biodiversity. Loss of biodiversity and people’s weaker connection to nature, along with poor microbial literacy may be augmenting the negative consequences of germaphobia on ecosystem health. In this study, we created an online questionnaire to acquire data on attitudes toward, and knowledge of microbes. We collected data on nature connectedness and interactions with nature and explored the relationships between these variables. Although the study had an international reach (n = 1,184), the majority of responses came from England, United Kingdom (n = 993). We found a significant association between attitudes toward microbes and both duration and frequency of visits to natural environments. A higher frequency of visits to nature per week, and a longer duration spent in nature per visit, was significantly associated with positive attitudes toward microbes. We found no association between nature connectedness and attitudes toward microbes. We found a significant relationship between knowledge of “lesser known” microbial groups (e.g., identifying that fungi, algae, protozoa, and archaea are microbes) and positive attitudes toward microbes. However, we also found that people who identified viruses as being microbes expressed less positive views of microbes overall–this could potentially be attributed to a “COVID-19 effect.” Our results suggest that basic microbial literacy and nature engagement may be important in reducing/preventing germaphobia-associated attitudes. The results also suggest that a virus-centric phenomenon (e.g., COVID-19) could increase broader germaphobia-associated attitudes. As the rise of immune-related disorders and mental health conditions have been linked to germaphobia, reduced biodiversity, and non-targeted sterilization, our findings point to a feasible strategy to potentially help ameliorate these negative consequences. Further research is needed, but greater emphasis on microbial literacy and promoting time spent in nature could potentially be useful in promoting resilience in human health and more positive/constructive attitudes toward the foundations of our ecosystems—the microorganisms.

The Earth-Connected Human Superorganism Vs. The Machine

“…They found a direct positive relationship between a positive attitude and knowledge of microbes and the frequency and duration of visits to natural environments. They also found that a viral-centric focus of microbes and lack of knowledge about microbial diversity, such as occurred with the Covid-19 scare, was more likely to be associated with an overall negative view of microbes and increased germaphobia [113].…”

“…Governmental decrees designed to isolate healthy humans from each other and from nature only contribute to microbiome and physiological degradation [5,56]. Additionally, Robinson et al [113] posited that germaphobia has contributed to the prevalence of immune-driven disorders and mental health conditions and that our weaker connection to nature has further fostered immune related chronic disease. These researchers surveyed 1,184 individuals (the majority in the UK)…”

Exiting the Anthropocene: Achieving personal and planetary health in the 21st century

“…A greater understanding of psychological relationships with nature, biodiversity, and potentially beneficial microbes, and how those attitudes and values intersect with biophysiological markers, will also be necessary. To this end, some have called for a deeper understanding of “microbial literacy” and how it might act as a pathway to more positive and constructive attitudes toward the microorganisms that underpin the ecosystems that sustain health along the personal, community, and planetary health continuum 113 …”

“…To this end, some have called for a deeper understanding of “microbial literacy” and how it might act as a pathway to more positive and constructive attitudes toward the microorganisms that underpin the ecosystems that sustain health along the personal, community, and planetary health continuum. 113 …”

Bridging the gap with bacterial art

“…This unbalanced view of microbes is exacerbated by the overhyped media coverage during outbreaks of infected food (Neutro 2016 , Ivanhoe 2019 ). Society lacks a balanced view of the many positive roles bacteria have on our health, resulting in public fear of the words “bacteria”, “microbes”, and “germs” and can manifest into germaphobia (Robinson et al 2021 ). The resulting “gap” can lead to an artificial separation between the fields of Arts and Sciences, and in the public’s understanding and knowledge of the important positive role of microbes.…”