Cognitive Risk Perception Research Articles

Association Between COVID-19 Risk Perceptions and Economic Expectations During the Pandemic in South Korea

Risk perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic changed economic expectations and shaped individuals’ consumption and investment choices, thereby worsening its economic and social damage. This study investigated the associations between COVID-19 risk perceptions and economic expectations using a South Korean dataset collected during the pandemic. The results of a logistic regression conducted on 1,001 participants revealed that greater pandemic risk perceptions were significantly associated with negative economic expectations at both the national and the household levels. Affective risk perception had a large and significant negative association with all four types of economic expectations, whereas cognitive risk perception had a significant negative association only with households’ economic expectations. The association was greater for the perception that the economy would “get better” than for “get worse” or “remain the same,” indicating COVID-19 may have reduced individuals’ optimistic economic expectations. COVID-19’s economic damage may last beyond the pandemic, as individuals adjust their economic expectations.

What predicts hurricane evacuation decisions? The importance of efficacy beliefs, risk perceptions, and other factors

Risk theories and empirical research indicate that a variety of factors can influence people’s protective decisions for natural hazards. Using data from an online survey that presented coastal U.S. residents with a hypothetical hurricane scenario, this study investigates the relative importance of cognitive risk perceptions, negative affect, efficacy beliefs, and other factors in explaining people’s anticipated evacuation decisions. The analysis finds that multiple factors, including individual and household characteristics, previous experiences, cognitive and affective risk perceptions, and efficacy beliefs, can help predict hurricane evacuation intentions. However, the largest amount of variance in survey participants’ evacuation intentions is explained by their evacuation-related response efficacy (coping appraisals) and their perceived likelihood of getting hurt if they stay home during the storm. Additional analysis explores how risk perceptions and efficacy beliefs interact to influence people’s responses to risk information. Although further investigation in additional situations is needed, these results suggest that persuading people at high risk that evacuating is likely to reduce harm can serve as an important risk communication lever for motivating hurricane evacuation.

Communicative Framework Development for Construction Risk Governance: An Analysis of Risk and Trust Perception for Organizational Sustainability

In the construction industry, risk governance stems from the standardization of safety policies and procedures. Safety governance is typically communicated and enforced through a top-down, command-and-control approach. Procedures and policies are created at the top level and cascaded down to the work. Individual discretion in the workplace permits a choice for worker adherence to safety procedures. Through a literature review, this study identified risk perception as a significant variable in regulatory compliance and fidelity. Individual hazard assessments and risk behaviors are often based on subjective cognitive risk perceptions rather than organizational governance policy. In the current governance system, there is a misalignment of risk perceptions and failure in trust between the workforce and the regulatory process. This study examines the impact of risk perceptions on safety compliance and promotes a more participative risk governance process for sustainable construction practices. A participative framework model is proposed to help align worker risk perceptions with organizational governance through policy creation, policy compliance and stakeholder participation and feedback. Utilizing proper discourse and cyclical communication, the proposed framework aims to increase safety fidelity, compliance, and trust in the construction industry through a more inclusive and collaborative governance strategy.

Understanding the conditional media effects: trust, new media exposure, and preventive behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study analyzed three-wave panel survey data gathered from August 2020 (n = 3,190) to April 2022 (n = 1,153) in Hong Kong to examine the effects of conditional media on preventive behaviors during the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) pandemic. By using the differential susceptibility to media effects model (DSMM), this study demonstrates the usefulness of trust as an effective cultivator of media exposure, especially with regard to the contradictory effects of interpersonal and institutional trust on the use of new media. Moreover, this study innovatively suggests that the nature of media, specifically new media decentralization, also influences differential media effects in the DSMM. The analysis of longitudinal survey data further revealed a significant mediating role of cognitive risk perception in people’s preventive behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings make theoretical contributions to the DSMM and to the understanding of conditional media effects. The practical implications are discussed in this paper.

Exploring the Spanish Tourists’ Intentions to Travel to Zones That Have a Low-Impact of COVID-19 by Taking into Account Their Cognitive and Affective Risk Perceptions About the Pandemic

In the current context in which tourism is beginning to recover, this study examines the worldwide trend of tourists traveling to destinations with a low impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in a country such as Spain, which is highly dependent on tourism activity. By employing the SEM methodology and an extended theory of planned behavior (TPB), which includes the cognitive and affective dimensions of perceived risk about the pandemic and past behavior, the results show the positive effect that past behavior and the core variables of the TPB have on the behavioral intentions of Spanish tourists, despite the negative impact that their cognitive risk perception has on these core variables. The study’s findings have useful practical implications for tourism authorities and stakeholders in Spain and other countries that are also highly dependent on tourism.

The pro-environmental travel behaviour intention in the post-pandemic era: the role of risk communication, risk perception and environmental concerns

Using the attribution theory, this study develops model of pro-environmental behaviour intention (PETBI) in post-pandemic era. Particularly, this study aims to examine the relation between environmental concerns, risk communication, risk perception of the COVID-19 pandemic, and individuals’ PETBI in the tourism industry. An online survey was carried out, which yielded 272 valid responses. PLS-SEM was employed to analyse the data and examine the strength of the relationships between variables. The findings revealed that risk communication of COVID-19, positively impact cognitive and affective risk perception and environmental concern exert significant positive effects on PETBI. Additionally, affective risk perception significantly affects environmental concern. In addition, environmental concern mediates the relationship between affective risk perception and PETBI. Contrary to the expectation, cognitive risk perception does not exert an effect on environmental concern. This study provides significant research insights for the tourism industry and local governments, on the whole, to develop proper mechanisms in addressing risk communication and perception of COVID-19 to enhance PETB in the post-pandemic era.

Would You Mind Sharing Your Opinion About the Covid-19 Vaccination?

The present study investigates predictors of opinion expression about the Covid-19 vaccination. Health-related opinion expressions, which can be understood as a specific type of information sharing, are highly relevant since opinions are influential sources for individuals’ health-related attitude formation and decision-making and shape public opinion about health topics. Guided by extensive research on political opinion expression and the current state of research addressing health information sharing, we apply theoretical assumptions of the risk information seeking and processing model (RISP) to opinion expression about vaccination in different social contexts. We conducted an online survey in Germany (N = 833) and empirically analysed our model using regression analyses. A higher likelihood to express one’s opinion was contextual-independently facilitated by more positive attitudes towards sharing, injunctive norms, and sharing efficacy. Context-specific patterns were found for descriptive norms, cognitive risk perceptions, and information seeking. Our results revealed the RISP to be a step towards a theoretically sound framework explaining opinion expression, but demand more specific frameworks developed for opinion expression.

Conformity behavior in crises: evidence from the COVID-19 epidemic in China.

Once a mass health crisis breaks out, it causes concern among whole societies. Thus, understanding the individual's behavior in response to such events is key in government crisis management. From the perspective of social influence theory, this study adopts the empirical research method to collect data information in February 2020 through online survey, with a view to comprehensively describe the individuals'conformity behavior during the COVID-19 outbreak in China. The individual's conformity behavior and new influencing factors were identified. The results revealed that affective risk perception, cognitive risk perception, and individual risk knowledge had a positive significant impact on normative influence. Affective risk perception and individual risk knowledge had a positive significant on informative influence. Cognitive risk perception did not significantly impact informative influence. Informative influence and normative influence had a positive effect on conformity behavior. These results have significant implications for the management behavior of the government.

Influence of social and psychological factors on smartphone usage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study investigates the influence of psychological factors-specifically affective and cognitive risk perceptions, social distancing attitudes, subjective norms, and cabin fever syndrome-on smartphone usage intensity during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on university students. Utilizing a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 314 university students from South Korea and Vietnam. Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the relationships between the psychological constructs and their impact on smartphone usage. The analysis confirms that both affective and cognitive risk perceptions significantly influence attitudes towards social distancing. Furthermore, these social distancing attitudes are found to significantly affect cabin fever syndrome, suggesting that positive attitudes towards social distancing are closely associated with higher reports of cabin fever. Notably, cabin fever syndrome emerges as a significant predictor of increased smartphone usage, underscoring its role as a mediator between prolonged isolation and digital engagement. Additionally, subjective norms are also shown to significantly influence smartphone usage intensity, highlighting the impact of social expectations on digital behaviors during the pandemic. The study highlights the complex interplay between psychological distress induced by social restrictions and increased reliance on digital technology for social connectivity. These insights suggest that mental health interventions and digital literacy programs tailored to university students' needs can be effective in managing the negative impacts of prolonged social isolation.

Fostering active choice to empower behavioral change to reduce cardiovascular risk: A web-based randomized controlled trial.

To investigate the effect of an active choice (AC) intervention based on creating risk and choice awareness-versus a passive choice (PC) control group-on intentions and commitment to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk-reducing behavior. Adults aged 50-70 (n = 743) without CVD history participated in this web-based randomized controlled trial. The AC intervention included presentation of a hypothetical CVD risk in a heart age format, information about CVD risk and choice options, and a values clarification exercise. The PC group received a hypothetical absolute numerical CVD risk and brief information and advice about lifestyle and medication. Key outcomes were reported degree of active choice, intention strength, and commitment to adopt risk-reducing behavior. More AC compared to PC participants opted for lifestyle change (OR = 2.86, 95%CI:1.51;5.44), or lifestyle change and medication use (OR = 2.78, 95%CI:1.42;5.46), than 'no change'. No differences were found for intention strength. AC participants made a more active choice than PC participants (β = 0.09, 95%CI:0.01;0.16), which was sequentially mediated by cognitive risk perception and negative affect. AC participants also reported higher commitment to CVD risk-reducing behavior (β = 0.32, 95%CI:0.04;0.60), mediated by reported degree of active choice. Fostering active choices increased intentions and commitment towards CVD risk-reducing behavior. Increased cognitive risk perception and negative affect were shown to mediate the effect of the intervention on degree of active choice, which in turn mediated the effect on commitment. Future research should determine whether fostering active choice also improves risk-reducing behaviors in individuals at increased CVD risk in real-life settings. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05142280. Prospectively registered.

Exploring the Effects of Risk Perceptions and Depression of Young Travelers on Destination Trust in the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT The correlations among travelers’ depression in a public health crisis, risk perceptions (affective risk and cognitive risk perception), and destination trust are explored through this study’s employment of quantitative methods with PLS-SEM. This study also examines the differences between male and female young travelers, regarding risk perceptions, depression, and destination trust, and the relationships among these factors. The main findings showed that risk perceptions have remarkably impacted destination trust. However, risk perceptions have not affected depression, and depression has no relationship with destination trust, which is not in line with previous research. Furthermore, a significant difference was found between male and female young travelers in the relationships between risk perceptions and destination trust. Besides, the study provides some implications to enrich the literature for academics. Practical implications could help destination marketers, and tourism companies better understand young travelers’ behaviors in the new normal of society.

The role of pandemic risk communication and perception on pro-environmental travel behavioral intention: Findings from PLS-SEM and fsQCA

This study examines how risk communication and risk perception related to the pandemic affect tourists' intention to engage in pro-environmental travel behavior. An online survey was conducted, yielding 449 valid responses. The data was analysed using Partial Lease Square – Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). The results indicate that risk communication and cognitive risk perception significantly impact pro-environmental travel behavioral intention (PETBI). Although the output of PLS-SEM does not support the positive effect of affective risk perception on PETBI, the results of fsQCA support this relationship. Additionally, this study confirms the mediating role of cognitive risk perception between risk communication and PETBI. Environmental responsibility is found as a significant mediator between affective and cognitive risk perception and environmental moral obligation, while environmental concern is established as a significant mediator between cognitive risk perception and environmental moral obligation. Although social influence did not moderate the relationship between environmental moral obligation and PETBI, based on the results of the fsQCA, it can positively influence PETBI. These findings provide valuable insights for the tourism industry in China and other countries, enabling them to develop effective strategies to address risk communication and perception of the pandemic and promote pro-environmental travel behavior. Furthermore, the study offers theoretical and managerial implications for scholars and practitioners alike.

Social isolation in COVID-19: a comparative study between Korea and Vietnam

Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation has become a pressing issue worldwide, deeply affecting individuals’ mental and physical well-being. This study introduces a theoretical model to understand the factors influencing social isolation in the context of this global health crisis. We employed a survey methodology, collecting data from Korean and Vietnamese university students through a Google survey form. The theoretical model was evaluated using structural equation modeling (SEM), and multi-group analysis (MGA) was used to assess differences between the Korean and Vietnamese student groups. The investigation centered on affective risk perception, cognitive risk perception, social distancing attitude, social distancing intention, and demographic factors like age and gender. Our findings revealed that affective and cognitive risk perceptions have significant positive impacts on attitudes toward social distancing. Furthermore, attitudes towards social distancing were found to significantly influence social distancing intentions. Interestingly, social distancing intention was found to have a significant positive correlation with social isolation. Lastly, demographic factors such as gender and age were found to be significant factors influencing social isolation. Specifically, gender had a positive association, while age showed a negative correlation with social isolation. Moreover, our MGA results showed that the relationship between social distancing intention and social isolation significantly differed between the Korean and Vietnamese student groups, indicating potential cultural or societal influences on this relationship. Such understanding could inform policies and strategies aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of social isolation in the wake of global health crises.

Evacuate or social distance? Modeling the influence of threat perceptions on hurricane evacuation in a dual-threat environment.

This study investigates how different risk predictors influenced households' evacuation decisions during a dual-threat event (Hurricane Laura and COVID-19 pandemic). The Protective Action Decision Model (PADM) literature indicates that perceived threat variables are the most influential variables that drive evacuation decisions. This study applies the PADM to investigate a dual-threat disaster that has conflicting protective action recommendations. Given the novelty, scale, span, impact, and messaging around COVID-19, it is crucial to see how hurricanes along the Gulf Coast-a hazard addressed seasonally by residents with mostly consistent protective action messaging-produce different reactions in residents in this pandemic context. Household survey data were collected during early 2021 using a disproportionate stratified sampling procedure to include households located in mandatory and voluntary evacuation areas across the coastal counties in Texas and parishes in Louisiana that were affected by Hurricane Laura. Structural equation modeling was used to identify the relationships between perceived threats and evacuation decisions. The findings suggest affective risk perceptions strongly affected cognitive risk perceptions (CRPs). Notably, hurricane and COVID-19 CRPs are significant predictors of hurricane evacuation decisions in different ways. Hurricane CRPs encourage evacuation, but COVID-19 CRPs hinder evacuation decisions.

The association between the risk perceptions of COVID-19, trust in the government, political ideologies, and socio-demographic factors: A year-long cross-sectional study in South Korea.

Risk perception research, targeting the general public, necessitates the study of the multi-faceted aspects of perceived risk through a holistic approach. This study aimed to investigate the association between the two dimensions of risk perception of COVID-19, i.e., risk as a feeling and analysis, trust in the current government, political ideologies, and socio-demographic factors in South Korea. This study used a year-long repeated cross-sectional design, in which a national sample (n = 23,018) participated in 23 consecutive telephone surveys from February 2020 to February 2021. Most factors differed in the magnitude and direction of their relationships with the two dimensions of risk perception. However, trust in the current government, alone, delineated an association in the same direction for both dimensions, i.e., those with a lower level of trust exhibited higher levels of cognitive and affective risk perception. Although these results did not change significantly during the one-year observation period, they are related to the political interpretation of risk. This study revealed that affective and cognitive risk perceptions addressed different dimensions of risk perception. These findings could help governments and health authorities better understand the nature and mechanisms of public risk perception when implementing countermeasures and policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health emergencies.

Impacts of social isolation and risk perception on social networking intensity among university students during covid-19.

This paper aims to examine the impacts of social isolation and risk perception on social networking intensity during COVID-19. Data was gathered from 345 university students. The present study empirically analyzed the data through a partial least squares methodology. The analysis showed that perceived behavioral control positively impacts social networking intensity. Affective risk perception positively affects subjective norms and perceived behavioral control. Cognitive risk perception has a significant association with both subjective norms and perceived behavioral control. Moreover, cabin fever syndrome serves as the key determinant of both sub-scales of risk perception. This study is novel in that it organically examines the effects of risk perception, social action, and closure on social networking. The current research and findings will offer useful implications for service providers in the social network industry.

The Relationship between COVID-19 Protection Behaviors and Pandemic-Related Knowledge, Perceptions, Worry Content, and Public Trust in a Turkish Sample.

This study aimed to explore the effect of knowledge, COVID-19-related perceptions, and public trust on protective behaviors in Turkish people. Data were collected from an online survey (Turkish COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring) conducted between July 2020 and January 2021. The recommended protective behaviors (hand cleaning, wearing a face mask, and physical distancing) to prevent COVID-19 were examined. The impacts of the following variables on protective behaviors were investigated using logistic regression analysis: knowledge, cognitive and affective risk perception, pandemic-related worry content, public trust, conspiracy thinking, and COVID-19 vaccine willingness. Out of a total of 4210 adult respondents, 13.8% reported nonadherence to protection behavior, and 86.2% reported full adherence. Males and young (aged 18-30 years) people tend to show less adherence. Perceived self-efficacy, susceptibility, and correct knowledge were positively related to more adherence to protective behavior. Perceptual and emotional factors explaining protective behavior were perceived proximity, stress level, and worrying about the relatives who depended on them. Trust in health professionals and vaccine willingness were positive predictors, while conspiracy thinking and acquiring less information (<2, daily) were negative predictors. Unexpectedly, trust in the Ministry of Health showed a weak but negative association with protection behavior. Perceived stress, altruistic worries, and public trust seem to shape protection behaviors in addition to individuals' knowledge and cognitive risk perception in respondents. Males and young people may have a greater risk for nonadherence. Reliable, transparent, and culture-specific health communication that considers these issues is required.

Using family-centered communication to optimize patient-provider-companion encounters about changing to biosimilars: A randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveTo explore whether family-centered communication impacts decisions and optimizes patient-companion-provider consultations. MethodsA parallel, two-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted with 108 participants acting as patients with inflammatory arthritis or companions. Pairs attended a mock consultation where a physician explained the change from a bio-originator to a biosimilar using family-centered or patient-only communication. Participants reported their willingness to transition, risk perceptions, understanding and social support, and completed various scales including the Patient Perception Scale. Interviews helped understand perceptions towards the consultation. ResultsFamily-centered communication did not impact willingness to change or cognitive risk perceptions compared to patient-only communication. However, it improved emotional risk perceptions (p = 0.047, Cohen’s d=.55) and satisfaction with communication (p = 0.015, Cohen’s d=.71). Feeling the explanation was reassuring was associated with less worry (p = 0.004). Receiving emotional support (p = 0.014) and companions asking fewer questions (p = 0.046) were associated with higher recall. The intervention improved companion involvement (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d= 1.23) and support (p = 0.002, Cohen’s d=.86). Interviews showed that encouraging questions, inclusive body language, and acknowledging companions facilitated involvement. ConclusionFamily-centered communication augments patient-companion-provider encounters but does not influence willingness to change treatment. Practice implicationsPractitioners can use family-centered communication when discussing biosimilars but should provide reassurance, encourage emotional support, and summarize key points to improve understanding.

Effects of as-if risk framing of hazards on risk perception and its rebuttal

BackgroundThe difference between hazard and risk is crucial in risk assessment but rather unknown by non-experts. Hyper-partisan activists could use this knowledge gap to amplify risk perception by framing hazards as as-if risks, i.e., describing hazards as if their exposure is critical. Thus, using this as-if risk framing can trigger impressions that a risk is present. Until now, this framing technique and its rebuttal was not empirically analyzed. MethodAn experimental 2 × 2 factorial online study (N = 404) with repeated measures after intervention was conducted to investigate how framing (hazard vs. as-if risk) and stigmatization (stigmatized vs. non-stigmatized chemical agent) affects affective and cognitive risk perception using an example of exposure to drifting pesticides. ResultsAs-if risk framing increased risk perception, effects of stigmatization were not observed. However, the a-priori risk perception influences the recorded risk perceptions after the experimental treatment. Rebuttal was successful, i.e., subjects with elevated risk perceptions due to as-if risk framing reduced their risk perception after receiving corrective information. ConclusionsAs-if risk framing investigated here is not a sequestered case. Accordingly, the present study may offer general insights into correcting biased information that neglects the difference between hazard and risk. Risk communicators can benefit from these insights.

Impact of COVID-19 Risk Perception on Residents’ Behavioural Intention towards Forest Therapy Tourism

Risk perception has an important influence on tourism decision-making behaviour. Based on the extended Theory of Planned Behaviour, we examine the effect of COVID-19 risk perception on tourists’ behavioural intentions towards forest therapy tourism. A questionnaire survey was conducted during the pandemic. Based on structural equation modelling (SEM), our evidence shows that cognitive risk perception positively and significantly influenced subjective norms, while affective risk perception positively and significantly influenced attitudes. Subjective norms mediated perceived risk perception and behavioural intentions, while attitudes mediated emotional risk perception and behavioural intentions. Gender partially moderated perceived behavioural control and behavioural intentions. Finally, this study proposes corresponding management countermeasures of great practical importance in promoting the development of forest recreation tourism.