The Communication and Community Participation to Northern Smog Pollution Problems of Youth in Chiang Mai

Abstract

The purposes of this research were to: (1) study the communication behavior of Northern smog problems; (2) study the community participation to smog problems in the North; (3) study factors related to the communication with community involvement regarding northern smog problems of youth in Chiang Mai province. The sample included 400 youths in Chiang Mai province. A questionnaire was used as research tool. Data was analyzed by mean, standard deviation and Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient. The results showed that: Most of the youth were exposed to air pollution and smog at moderate level from mass communication, such as television, radio, and newspaper or community media like brochures, community voices, and internet. The most exposed media were the internet, television, and personal media, i.e. parents and family members. Participation in reducing the air pollution and smog of the youth in Chiang Mai province was at a low level although the information has been exposed by the media in the community. The youth had a better understanding of the causes and effects of smoke pollution but they could not be involved in solving the problems of the community. Therefore, information exchange was an important communication process in order to solve problems in the community by discussing all sectors. Factors explaining the relationship between communication and community participation on northern smog problems of youth in Chiang Mai province do not correlate.