A new study from our Psychology Department has found that children’s views on the design and comfort of air pollution masks could be key to encouraging their regular use.
The research, part of the FACE-UP project (Factors Affecting Childhood Exposures to Urban Particulates), explored how children in Nepal and Indonesia feel about different types of KN95-style respirators.
Air pollution levels in Nepal and Indonesia are up to ten times higher than World Health Organization (WHO) safety limits, putting children at serious health risk.
Our researchers worked with colleagues from Universitas Indonesia and the Nepal Health Research Council to carry out focus groups with 116 children aged 6 to 12 years.
The aim was to understand which designs and styles (e.g. strap type, colour, pattern, shape) they prefer to wear.
This can help manufacturers, policymakers, and humanitarian agencies design and distribute respirators that children are more likely to wear consistently.
The children were shown seven types of certified respirators and asked to rate their preferences for different design features and to rank them according to their personal choice.
Most children (69%) preferred masks with ear-loops rather than head-straps, describing them as easier and more comfortable to wear.
Younger children were drawn to colourful and patterned masks, while older children liked plain black or white designs.
Cultural differences also emerged. Indonesian children, especially boys, preferred black and vertical-fold masks, while Nepalese children showed more mixed preferences.
No single mask design appealed to everyone, suggesting that a variety of styles may be needed to encourage use.
If only one option could be provided, the researchers recommend plain black or white respirators with ear-loops, as these were the most widely accepted.
Our Department of Psychology is ranked 84th in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 and 12th in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2026. Visit our Psychology webpages for more information on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
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