Higher Levels Of Perceived Risk Research Articles

Efeito dos riscos percebidos sobre a confiança e as decisões de investimento e financiamento

Objective: Given the role of trust and risks perceived by the financial manager in his relationship with the financial institution, this study seeks to verify the moderating role of perceived risks in the relationship between trust and investment decisions and organizational financing. Method: The study was carried out through a survey of 232 financial managers. Originality: This study shows how the characteristics of the relationship between the financial manager and the financial institution influence the decision-making processes of investment and financing. Results: The results show that trust displays a positive linear effect on the investment decision, but it does not present a linear relationship with the financing decision. Higher levels of risk perception increase the effect of trust in the investment decision, while under conditions of low risk perception, trust influences the financing decision. Theoretical contributions: In theoretical terms, these results contribute to fill a gap in the search for the effects of manager's trust in the financial institution. Specifically, this study elucidated that trust displays a different effect on investment and financing decisions. Managerial contributions: Financial institutions may, concerning management, assess under which conditions establishing trust relationships are most important in determining investment or financing decisions by the financial manager.

A Survey of Rural Residents' Perception and Response to Health Risks from Hot Weather in Ethnic Minority Areas in Southwest China.

Ethnic minority areas in southwestern China are facing frequent high-temperature heatwaves. The health risk perceptions and responses of the local residents need to be investigated in order to formulate public policies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on health. In this study, a household survey was conducted in Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County of Chongqing from January to February 2019. A total of 624 local residents were sampled using the multi-stage sampling method. We used multivariate logistic regression models to explore the factors affecting risk perceptions and responses with regard to hot weather. The results showed that despite a relatively high level of risk perception, the study population had a very low level of willingness to see a doctor (24.4%), especially ethnic minority residents (17.5%). In particular, 80% of residents were aware of climate warming and 79% of residents were aware of the health risks of hot weather. Almost all survey participants reported a response to hot weather, with more than half of the participants stating that they would go somewhere cooler (58.5%) and drink more water (56.3%). Compared with the Han Chinese, ethnic minority participants had a higher perception of warm temperature (p <0.001) and associated health risks (p <0.001) but a lower perception of physical discomfort (p <0.001) and aggravated diseases (p = 0.001). The logistic models indicated that ethnic minority, residence time, outdoor working hours, and health status can significantly influence perceptions and subsequently significantly affect coping behaviors. In conclusion, our findings provide significant implications for the development of policies and health education and promotion programs for ethnic minorities in southwest China to aid them in maintaining good health during future hot weather events.

How much do plant guarantees reduce perceived risk?

Consumers do perceive risk in purchase decisions and seek to reduce both uncertainty and probability of loss. Risk also varies across persons and purchasing situations. Retailers promote product guarantees as risk reducers, but the quantitative evidence is lacking. They offer guarantees to help resolve outcomes from post-purchase problems mainly, product performance. We used an online survey to investigate the role of risk mitigation by money-back guarantees (MBGs) on a live product: plants. We obtained online responses from 504 US residents ≥ age 18 years who had made at least one live plant purchase in the six months prior to the study. As MBG length increased, perceived risk (PR) decreased. PR was higher for men than for women and declined as income increased. Subjects with a higher level of product involvement, expertise, delight, repurchase intentions, and regret had a higher level of PR. We conducted separate Chow tests for annual and perennial plants by price and MBG length and found several break points. As price increased from $5 to $10, a 30-d MBG reduced PR for annual plants while the reduction in PR was incrementally decreased for all guarantee lengths when annuals were priced over $20. With perennial plants, the MBG had an increasingly larger effect on reducing PR for each $10 increase in price. Overall, for each day increase in MBG length, we observed a 0.0337 decrease in PR, which meant that a 90-d MBG on a plant would reduce PR by 3%. This quantitative evidence of reduction in PR should encourage the use and communication of MBGs which have the potential to improve purchases, customer retention, and profitability.

Children's use of mobile devices, smartphone addiction and parental mediation in Taiwan

This study assessed the prevalence of smartphone addiction among children in Taiwan and examined the related factors. A total of 2621 fifth-grade students and 2468 parents from 30 primary schools in Taipei, Taiwan completed self-administered questionnaires in 2016. The results showed that fifth-grade students spent 11 h per week using either smartphones or tablets. The prevalence of smartphone addiction among fifth-grade students was 15.2%. Multivariate analysis results showed that parents who had high levels of risk perception and mediation efficacy were more likely to implement restrictive mediation of their children's use of the Internet and mobile devices. In addition, multivariate analysis results showed that children who had poor academic performance, depression, owned smartphones, frequently played smartphone/tablet gaming, and regularly used SNSs and instant messaging, had low levels of parental restrictive mediation, and had lower levels of self-reported Internet safety literacy were more likely to experience smartphone addiction.

Risk perception of a chronic threat of terrorism: Differences based on coping types, gender and exposure.

High levels of risk perception of terrorism (RPT) may impair an individual's quality of life and welfare. To understand the mechanisms responsible for RPT, this study investigated the association of gender and coping styles with individual differences in two key elements of RPT: perceived control and perceived vulnerability. A convenience sample of 400 Israelis (181 men and 219 women) filled out questionnaires on sociodemographic background, RPT and coping. Employing a multidimensional approach for coping, we divided participants into four coping types: problem-focused (n= 65), emotion-focused (n= 70), mixed (n= 122) and minimal (n= 142). The results indicate that problem-focused coping is associated with higher levels of perceived control than other types of coping and mixed coping is associated with higher levels of perceived vulnerability than other coping strategies. Also, interactions between gender and exposure to terrorism contributed to understanding the differences in perceived control. The discussion addresses gender differences in RPT and coping in the context of traditional gender roles. The study concludes with implications for risk management and therapeutic interventions regarding high levels of fear of terrorism.

Perceptions of Health Risks from Hot Weather, and Coping Behaviors among Ethnic Minority Groups in Mountain Areas of China: A Case Study in the Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.

Limited research focuses on risk perceptions of hot weather among ethnic minority groups in remote mountain areas of China. Adopting a multi-stage sampling method, this study received completed questionnaires from 643 participates in Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of China in 2017 and 2018. We used multivariate logistic regression models to explore the factors affecting risk perceptions and coping behaviors with regards to hot weather. Results showed that despite a relatively high level of risk perception, the study population in the mountain areas of China had a very low level of preparedness in responding to the risks from heat, and a lack of professional health knowledge in general. In particular, 61.3% (95% CI: 57.1%−5.6%) of the participants felt increasing temperatures in recent years, 73.2% (95% CI: 69.3%−7.0%) thought extreme high temperatures would be a health threat, and 61.3% (95% CI: 57.1%−5.4%) reported physical discomfort during hot weather. However, only 12% (95% CI: 9.5%−4.5%) had the information or knowledge to stay healthy during the extreme high temperatures, and only 24.2% had (95% CI: 20.8%−7.6%) preparation. The logistic regression models suggested that ethnic group, health status, marital status, gender, and employment could affect their perceptions, which could significantly affect the adoption of coping behaviors. In conclusion, our findings have significant implications for developing policies and health education and promotion programs for ethnic minorities in remote regions to maintain good health during hot weather.

Perceived Risk of Terrorism and Policy Preferences for Government Counterterrorism Spending: Evidence From a U.S. National Panel Survey

Drawing on past literature and using data from a two‐wave survey, we expand existing research to examine how individual social‐economic‐political characteristics and psychometric factors shape citizens’ terrorism risk perception, and how such risk perception and citizens’ perception of government competence affect policy preference for government counterterrorism spending. Using the two‐wave panel data, we also assess whether there is decay over time in the public's overall risk perception and in their overall policy preference for counterterrorism spending. We further examine the key factors driving changes between the two waves in individual respondents’ risk perception and spending preference. Results reveal that risk perception is influenced by both social‐economic‐political characteristics and psychometric factors, with the latter showing stronger predictive power, and that higher levels of risk perception and greater perceived government competence lead to stronger support for counterterrorism spending. We find no significant decay between the two waves in either the overall level of risk perception or the overall level of spending preference, but at the individual level, changes in risk perception are positively associated with changes in psychometric variables, and changes in spending preference are predicted by changes in perceived risk and changes in perceived government competence.

Using Episodic Future Thinking to Pre-Experience Climate Change Increases Pro-Environmental Behavior

Research has found that many people view climate change as a psychologically distant, future threat, which leads them to be less motivated to engage in pro-environmental behavior. Engaging in episodic future thinking (EFT; projecting the self into the future to pre-experience future events) may facilitate the perception of future events as psychologically close, thereby increasing the perceived risk associated with those events. Therefore, engagement in EFT regarding climate change–related risks should induce higher risk perceptions and lead to acting pro-environmentally. In two experiments, we demonstrated that engaging in EFT to pre-experience climate change–related risk events was associated with a higher level of risk perception and a greater tendency toward pro-environmental behavior, including energy-saving use of air-conditioning (Experiment 1), willingness to participate in beach cleaning (Experiment 2), and choice of a meal with lower environmental impact (Experiment 2). The current research provides experimental evidence for an innovative approach to improving public engagement with climate change.

The Relationship between Geological Disaster Risk Perception and Behavior Characteristics Based on Electroencephalogram Testing Technology

Geological disasters will bring about great harm, often causing serious personal and property losses to the public. The existing researches point out that the behavior characteristics of individuals in the face of geological disasters can exert a significant influence on the implementation effect of disaster reduction policies. Under this background, this paper establishes a binary model of “risk perception type—behavior decision characteristic” by using geological disaster risk perception measurement scale and Electroencephalogram (EEG) testing technology, and studies the behavior characteristics of different groups in the face of geological disasters through this model. The research results show that compared to others, women and subjects going through geological disasters have a higher level of risk perception in the face of geological disasters, and they also show a greater degree of concern for disaster information, indicating that women and those experiencing geological disasters can respond more effectively to geological disasters. From the perspective of policy suggestion, policy makers should take groups with low risk perception as the focus of publicity of disaster prevention and reduction policies so as to enhance the effectiveness of policies.

Computer/Mobile Device Screen Time of Children and Their Eye Care Behavior: The Roles of Risk Perception and Parenting.

This study assessed the computer/mobile device screen time and eye care behavior of children and examined the roles of risk perception and parental practices. Data were obtained from a sample of 2,454 child-parent dyads recruited from 30 primary schools in Taipei city and New Taipei city, Taiwan, in 2016. Self-administered questionnaires were collected from students and parents. Fifth-grade students spend more time on new media (computer/smartphone/tablet: 16 hours a week) than on traditional media (television: 10 hours a week). The average daily screen time (3.5 hours) for these children exceeded the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations (≤2 hours). Multivariate analysis results showed that after controlling for demographic factors, the parents with higher levels of risk perception and parental efficacy were more likely to mediate their child's eye care behavior. Children who reported lower academic performance, who were from non-intact families, reported lower levels of risk perception of mobile device use, had parents who spent more time using computers and mobile devices, and had lower levels of parental mediation were more likely to spend more time using computers and mobile devices; whereas children who reported higher academic performance, higher levels of risk perception, and higher levels of parental mediation were more likely to engage in higher levels of eye care behavior. Risk perception by children and parental practices are associated with the amount of screen time that children regularly engage in and their level of eye care behavior.

Women with Family History of Breast Cancer: How Much Are They Aware of Their Risk?

The aims of this study are to assess knowledge of inheritance characteristics of breast cancer and risk reduction strategies and to determine risk perception and the factors affecting risk perception of women with family history. There is a gap in our understanding of risk perception and knowledge of genetic aspect of breast cancer and risk reduction strategies in women with a family history of breast cancer. The study design is descriptive cross-sectional study. Between January 2015 and 2016 at a training and research hospital in Turkey, 117 women who were the first- and second-degree relatives of breast cancer patients were included in the study. Perceived risk scale, cancer worry chart, and a knowledge assessment form were used to collect data. Of the women, 34.1% were first-degree relatives of a breast cancer patient, and knowledge score was 6.9±2.19 out of 11. Almost half of the women (41.9%) moderately worry about the chances of getting breast cancer, and half of the women (51.3%) ranked their perceived risk as moderate (26-50% out of 100%). There is a significant difference between the perceived risk and educational level, having genetic testing, and a significant relationship between the perceived risk and worry level of women. However, breast cancer screening behavior was not affected by risk perception. The knowledge of women regarding inheritance characteristics of breast cancer and risk reduction strategies was moderate, but still majority of women have moderate or higher level of risk perception and are worried about getting breast cancer. Therefore, interventions should be planned to reduce worry and to increase risk reduction strategies such as screening and other health behaviors in women at risk for breast-ovarian cancer.

Extrapolating understanding of food risk perceptions to emerging food safety cases

Important determinants of risk perceptions associated with foods are the extent to which the potential hazards are perceived to have technological or naturally occurring origins, together with the acute vs. chronic dimension in which the potential hazard is presented (acute or chronic). This study presents a case study analysis based on an extensive literature review examining how these hazard characteristics affect people’s risk and benefit perceptions, and associated attitudes and behaviors. The cases include E. coli incidences (outbreaks linked to fresh spinach and fenugreek sprouts), contamination of fish by environmental pollutants, (organochlorine contaminants in farmed salmon), radioactive contamination of food following a nuclear accident (the Fukushima accident in Japan), and GM salmon destined for the human food chain. The analysis of the cases over the acute vs. chronic dimension suggests that longitudinal quantification of the relationship between risk perceptions and impacts is important for both acute and chronic food safety, but this has infrequently been applied to chronic hazards. Technologies applied to food production tend to potentially be associated with higher levels of risk perception, linked to perceptions that the risk is unnatural. However, for some risks (e.g. those involving biological irreversibility), moral or ethical concerns may be more important determinants of consumer responses than risk or benefit perceptions. (Lack of) trust has been highlighted in all of the cases suggesting transparent and honest risk–benefit communications following the occurrence of a food safety incident. Implications for optimizing associated risk communication strategies, additional research linking risk perception, and other quantitative measures, including comparisons in time and space, are suggested.

Risk perceptions and risk attitudes among Chinese consumers: the toxic capsule crisis

The toxic capsule crisis (TCC) shocked China in 2012, and seriously harmed consumer confidence. Based on a firsthand survey in 12 provinces with 850 observations, this paper examines Chinese consumers’ risk perceptions and risk attitudes about drugs after the TCC. The empirical results suggest that Chinese consumers’ risk perceptions (attributed likelihood of a drug safety accident occurrence) and risk attitudes (measured as level of concern about drug labeling) are weakly negatively correlated, but that risk perceptions are positively correlated with consumer concern about drug safety problems in general. Risk perception was higher among male consumers and those from rural areas, reporting a religious faith, of higher education, and with a family member who has experienced problems caused by drug safety problems. Those reporting a higher level of concern about drug safety issues, with a higher level of understanding of TCC, who reported less frequent physical examinations, and who searched for information after the TCC also had a higher level of risk perception. Being or having a family member who engaged in the health industry and being more satisfied with the government response to the TCC decreased risk perception. Regarding risk attitude, older consumers, those with a higher level of education and with a self-reported religious faith, and those less prepared including those who did not purchase health insurance, do not have health exams as frequently, and who do not take measures of protection and isolation when ill are more concerned about drug labeling information.

Circulating Humorous Antitobacco Videos on Social Media.

We investigated whether exposure to same humorous antitobacco videos via different types of social media platforms and contexts (health vs. humor) influences individual's health risk perceptions, attitudes, and behavioral intents. An experiment with a 2 (social media types: YouTube and Facebook) × 2 (message contexts: health-focused and humor-focused contexts) factorial design was conducted. It was found that those who watched the humorous antitobacco videos on Facebook in the health-context exhibited a higher level of risk perception of smoking, less positive attitude toward smokers, and a higher level of intention to avoid smoking in the future than the participants who viewed the same videos on YouTube in the health-context or on Facebook in the humor-context. These findings provide useful practical guidelines in using social media for health communication/promotion. Humorous health promotion messages are best circulated on social networking sites such as Facebook accompanied by others' support for the given health topic (i.e., in health-contexts). Practical/theoretical implications and limitations of the study were further discussed in this article.

Urban vulnerability and adaptation to heatwaves: a case study of Graz (Austria)

ABSTRACTThe increasing frequency of heatwaves, particularly in urban contexts, is one of the perceptible consequences of climate change. A city’s vulnerability to these heatwaves must be determined to develop proper adaptation measures. This article addresses the vulnerability of a medium-sized city in Central Europe, Graz, to heatwaves. Based on secondary data and primary data gathered from expert interviews, we identified certain determinants of vulnerability for the city: temperature, proportion of open and green spaces to developed areas, construction period of buildings, distribution of age and poverty risk, adaptation strategies used, and risk perception levels assessed for decision makers in the city administration. Certain city districts can be classified as particularly vulnerable. A high level of risk perception was detected among all decision makers and some adaptation measures have already been enacted. In particular, inter-organizational collaboration in adaptation networks works effectively. A deficit in efficient communication between researchers, policy makers, and members of the public was perceived to be the main barrier. This case study exemplifies the assessment of a city’s vulnerability to heatwaves on the basis of particular determinants and can be applied to many other cities.Policy relevanceThe method applied revealed potential improvements and opportunities on the policy level. Strong networks for climate change adaptation are most effective if regular meetings take place, allowing trust and friendship to grow between decision makers. More target-group-oriented information is needed. Emergency organizations, in particular, need more information, because the perception of heatwave risks has only been based thus far on personal experiences. By establishing a central authority, more information could be provided on heatwaves in cities. The need to raise the perception of members of the population and motivate them to take personal responsibility during disasters was emphasized by interviewed decision makers. This can be supported by providing advice during heatwaves through newspapers, TV, and radio. People in risk groups and their relatives could be trained in workshops. City areas that are at high risk should be marked on maps to make relevant information more tangible for decision makers.

Tropical cyclone perceptions, impacts and adaptation in the Southwest Pacific: an urban perspective from Fiji, Vanuatu and Tonga

Abstract. The destruction caused by tropical cyclone (TC) Pam in March 2015 is considered one of the worst natural disasters in the history of Vanuatu. It has highlighted the need for a better understanding of TC impacts and adaptation in the Southwest Pacific (SWP) region. Therefore, the key aims of this study are to (i) understand local perceptions of TC activity, (ii) investigate impacts of TC activity and (iii) uncover adaptation strategies used to offset the impacts of TCs. To address these aims, a survey (with 130 participants from urban areas) was conducted across three SWP small island states (SISs): Fiji, Vanuatu and Tonga (FVT). It was found that respondents generally had a high level of risk perception and awareness of TCs and the associated physical impacts, but lacked an understanding of the underlying weather conditions. Responses highlighted that current methods of adaptation generally occur at the local level, immediately prior to a TC event (preparation of property, gathering of food, finding a safe place to shelter). However higher level adaptation measures (such as the modification to building structures) may reduce vulnerability further. Finally, we discuss the potential of utilising weather-related traditional knowledge and non-traditional knowledge of empirical and climate-model-based weather forecasts to improve TC outlooks, which would ultimately reduce vulnerability and increase adaptive capacity. Importantly, lessons learned from this study may result in the modification and/or development of existing adaptation strategies.

People's Risk Perceptions and Responses to Climate Change and Natural Disasters in BASECO Compound, Manila, Philippines

The research probed the residents’ awareness of climate change, perception of risk and their preparedness for natural disasters in the urban poor community of BASECO in Manila, Philippines. Using a structural equation model (SEM) for predicting building resilience and increasing adaptive capacity validates the hypothesis for risk perception in the context of the urban poor and the structural constraints that subjugates the high level of risk perception. The study highlights the importance of understanding the risk perceptions and responses to climate change and natural disasters with social, economic, political and cultural perspectives to ensure participation in building resilience and increasing adaptive capacity.

The impact of smog on risk perception and satisfaction of international and domestic tourists in Beijing.

Frequent natural disasters and epidemic diseases have sparked off an obvious concern over health and safety issues among the public all over the world. Public panic is further enhanced by intense media coverage on such events. Tourism is susceptible to crises because of the optionality and instability of tourist consumption. A considerable number of potential visitors would avoid to visiting certain destinations as they are not assured of enough levels of safety or health. Others would visit but their behaviours and experiences will change owing to higher level of risk perception. The smog or air pollution condition in most city of China has sparked off an intense concern to the public not only in China but also internationally. This research aims at answering the question: 'whether smog condition has exerted effects on tourists' risk perception, travelling satisfaction or loyalty to Beijing as a travelling destination' by exploring the perceptions of on-site international and domestic tourists towards the smog in Beijing. The characteristics of tourists' concern over smog condition were explored by interviewing visitors who finished their trips and were about to leave Beijing. Based on the content analysis of the interviewing materials, as well as the review on studies on human attitudes and responses towards air pollution and tourist perception on health related risks, possible concerns were identified. Afterwards, a scale measuring the degree of tourists' concern over smog conditions was developed. Scales evaluating tourist risk perception, satisfaction and loyalty were drawn from previous research. Comprehensive literature review laida solid foundation to the hypothesised model showing correlations among latent variables. A structural equation model was adopted to test the links among smog concern, risk perception, trip satisfaction and destination loyalty. Additionally, on the premise of cross-group invariance of the model, standardised means of latent variables were compared between international and domestic tourists to compare the levels of smog concern, risk perception, satisfaction and loyalty between these two groups. The outcomes of study on tourists' perception and attitudes resulted in the following findings. Firstly, tourists' concerns over smog consist in the harm on their health, emotion, quality of photos, attractiveness of spots and overall travelling satisfaction. Secondly, direct relationships were found for the hypothesized effects of smog concern on risk perception and satisfaction; the influence of risk perception on reducing satisfaction as well as the role of satisfaction in forming revisit intention (loyalty) was identified; Smog concern and risk perception exert negative impact on loyalty indirectly. Furthermore, the comparing result shows that the levels of smog concern, risk perception and loyalty among international tourists are lower than that of Chinese while difference in satisfaction evaluation is not significant. The broad concerns of this study are applicable across all key Chinese tourism cities visited by international tourists.

Farmers' willingness to pay for less health risks by pesticide use: A case study from the cotton belt of Punjab, Pakistan

The amount of pesticides used in crop production in Pakistan has increased rapidly in the last decades, whereas farmers in many areas of the country show little knowledge of safe and efficient use of pesticides. The level of willingness to pay (WTP) for avoiding health risks by pesticides was studied among 318 randomly selected cotton farmers from two districts of the area of Punjab (i.e., Vehari and Lodhran) in Pakistan, using the contingent valuation method. Most farmers felt that pesticide use is a prerequisite for successful cotton production, whereas at the same time they were well aware of pesticide health risks, which they considered minor. The majority of the farmers (77%) showed varying levels of WTP some fee up to 20% of the current pesticide expenditures for avoiding pesticide health risks, but few were willing to pay a fee over 20%. The mean WTP per farmer was low, reaching 5.8 $US on an annual basis. By contrast, a considerable proportion of the farmers (23%) were not willing to pay any fee for avoiding pesticide health risks. These individuals were mostly poor small-scale farmers with limited or no education. High levels of risk perception about pesticides, past experience of pesticide intoxication, high levels of education, and high income were associated with high farmers' WTP for less health risks by pesticides. Farmers who perceived major health risks by pesticides appeared to be highly willing to pay a premium for safe pesticides. Elderly farmers appeared more likely to pay some premium for safe pesticides as a result of higher farming experience and higher income than young farmers. Well-educated farmers were more likely to pay a high premium for safe pesticides. Large farm size was a significant predictor of positive WTP, which was interpreted as an indicator of farmers' wealth.

We are at risk, and so what? Place attachment, environmental risk perceptions and preventive coping behaviours

Place attachment regulates people-environment transactions across various relevant environmental–psychological processes. However, there is no consensus about its role in the relationship between environmental risk perception and coping behaviours. Since place attachment is strongly related to place-specific dimensions of one's own identity and may be linked to spatial-biases, it is hypothesized that place attachment negatively moderates the relation between environmental risk perception and prevention behaviours enacted to cope with environmental risks. Two studies were conducted in two Italian cities exposed to low and high flood risk. Results show that, even though higher levels of risk perception may exert a positive effect in improving people's willingness to cope with an environmental risk, this effect is weaker when it is associated with strong place attachment. Findings suggest that affect-based cues, such as place attachment, diminish environmental risk coping intentions and actions when associated with high risk perception. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.