Entomophobia is a determinant of household insecticide use

Household insecticides are a common source of chemical exposure in urban environments, yet the motivations behind their use, beyond pest presence alone, remain unclear. While it is reasonable to hypothesize that aversion to insects could drive highly averse individuals to apply more insecticides, this relationship has not been established in prior research, likely due to difficulties in measuring extreme aversion. Our study aimed to determine whether aversion to cockroaches and other insects, among various potential determinants, is a significant factor influencing insecticide use. We conducted an online survey of 510 adults across the United States and employed an innovative artificial intelligence driven tool to accurately quantify extreme cockroach aversion. We found that among those with elevated cockroach aversion, higher aversion levels were significantly associated with increased insecticide use and more frequent professional extermination. Insect aversion and a desire for cleanliness were the most important determinants of insecticide use, while the presence of pests was ranked lower. This study offers novel evidence that intense aversion to insects and cockroaches substantially influences household insecticide use. This finding suggests that public health interventions aimed at reducing household insecticide use and promoting integrated pest management should consider insect aversion as a risk factor for increased insecticide use.