Culturally Adapted Quasi-Experimental Interventions for Reducing Entomophobia and Disgust: A Study among Older Adults in Iran and Malaysia

This study shows that culturally adapted interventions are the most effective in reducing Entomophobia and disgust.Increased knowledge about insect pathogenicity unexpectedly intensified these reactions.Group-based interventions benefited Malaysian older adults, while individualized approaches worked better for Iranians.Pet ownership appeared protective, and combining visual and textual tools enabled a more comprehensive assessment of fear and disgust toward insects.