Risk Perception In Relation Research Articles

Climate Change, Bushfire Risk, and Environmental Values: Examining a Potential Risk Perception Threshold in Peri-Urban South Australia

ABSTRACTStriking a balance between the management of environmental risks and values is a challenge for decision-makers. If people perceive that environmental risks are increasing they may be willing to discount local values to manage those risks, so the identification of thresholds in risk perception in relation to specific behaviors could help to avoid policy failures. The complex relationships between perceptions of climate change and bushfire risks, environmental values and support for actions to mitigate local risks are presented for peri-urban regions in South Australia. The results of a household survey (N=988) suggest that a threshold of risk perception in relation to climate change and bushfire management has not been exceeded and people are broadly supportive of balanced management interventions. A minority of people still do not perceive that climate change is increasing bushfire risk, and are supportive of risk mitigation interventions even at the expense of local biodiversity. However, a larger group believe that climate change is a driver of bushfire risk, yet are still more likely to prioritize ecological values and are unwilling to discount those values for risk mitigation. Targeted communication could assist different groups to respond to gaps in knowledge and action to facilitate effective, differentiated interventions within forested landscapes on the margins of urban areas.

Motives and perceptions regarding electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use among adults with mental health conditions

BackgroundSmoking rates are disproportionately high among adults with mental health conditions (MHC), and recent research suggests that among former smokers, those with MHC are more likely to use electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). This study investigated reasons for ENDS use and related risk perceptions among individuals with versus without MHC. MethodsAmong adult current ENDS users (n=550), associations between self-reported MHC diagnoses and motives for ENDS use and ENDS risk perceptions were examined, stratified by smoking status. ResultsThere were no significant associations between MHC status and ENDS motives or perceptions in the overall sample. However, current smokers with MHC indicated thinking more about how ENDS might improve their health, and former smokers with MHC reported thinking less about how ENDS might harm their health, compared to their counterparts without MHC. Former smokers with MHC rated several reasons for ENDS use (e.g., less harmful than regular cigarettes; to quit smoking; appealing flavors) as more important than did those without MHC. ConclusionsCurrent and former smokers with MHC may be especially optimistic about health benefits of ENDS. However, they might also be prone to health risks of continued ENDS use or concurrent use with traditional cigarettes. It will be important for public health messaging to provide this population with accurate information about benefits and risks of ENDS.

Perceived recurrence risk of having another affected child: A survey on parents of children with autism spectrum disorders in Taiwan

ObjectiveAutism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have a significant genetic predisposition. The recurrence risk of ASD ranges from 3% to 18.7% for parents having one affected child. As recurrence risk perceptions have important implications for family planning, prenatal preparation, and future children managements, absolute and relative recurrence risk perceptions of having another affected child among Taiwanese parents of children with ASD were assessed. MethodsThis study collected quantitative survey data from 415 Taiwanese parents who had one child with ASD. ResultsParticipants reported their absolute recurrence risk of having another child with ASD was 33.4%. Compared to other parents with normally-developing children, merely 49.8% of participants perceived higher relative recurrence risk. By controlling for the sociodemographic characteristics, participants’ absolute recurrence risk perceptions were significantly predicted by their perceived genetic causes of ASD and family history of ASD. Yet, participants’ relative recurrence risk perceptions were significantly associated with only the perceived genetic etiology. ConclusionTaiwanese parents of children diagnosed with ASD had an incorrect understanding of their absolute and relative recurrence risks. Practice implicationsTo facilitate informed decision-making in family planning, healthcare providers should discuss absolute and relative recurrence risks as well as genetic causes of ASD with this particular group.

The Local Market Perception of Firm Risks During Cross-Listing Events

To date, we know very little about how local market perceives the changes in risk structure for the firms listing in overseas market and specifically how relative firm-specific risks (ratio of firm-specific to total risks) vary by listing type and home market development. In this paper we examine the dynamic step-by-step transition of the local market perceptions of relative idiosyncratic risks around the cross-listing events. Using a sample of 606 ADR firms, we find that increases in cross-listed firms’ relative firm-specific risks on the local market around the listing date are only temporary and small for Level I ADRs. We observe the most variations in Level III ADRs. For exchange listed ADRs from emerging markets, we find that before the listing date, there is a significant decrease in relative firm specific risk in the year prior to listing which then increases during the cross-listing, but we do not find similar changes for developed market firms. For developed market firms we only observe significant increases in relative firm specific risks. We interpret these as evidences of negative relationship between firm opaqueness and relative firm specific risks (Jin and Myers, 2006, Journal of Financial Economics, 79, 257-292).

Determinants of the intention to use Buy-Online, Pickup In-Store (BOPS): The moderating effects of situational factors and product type

Despite the wider introduction of the buy online and pick up in-store (BOPS) service by retailers, research on BOPS is still sparse, especially those from the consumer perspective. This paper employs the scenario-based factorial survey method to investigate how the perceived characteristics of innovation and the perceived risk of online shopping influence the consumers’ intention to use BOPS while also considering the moderating effects of situational factors (location convenience) and product type (involvement). Our findings indicated that the consumer perceptions of relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, and risks involved in online shopping are important antecedents to intention to use BOPS, and that these relationships were significantly moderated by locational convenience and product involvement. The implications of the findings and suggestions for future research are discussed in detail.

Perceptions of health risks of cigarette smoking: A new measure reveals widespread misunderstanding.

Most Americans recognize that smoking causes serious diseases, yet many Americans continue to smoke. One possible explanation for this paradox is that perhaps Americans do not accurately perceive the extent to which smoking increases the probability of adverse health outcomes. This paper examines the accuracy of Americans’ perceptions of the absolute risk, attributable risk, and relative risk of lung cancer, and assesses which of these beliefs drive Americans’ smoking behavior. Using data from three national surveys, statistical analyses were performed by comparing means, medians, and distributions, and by employing Generalized Additive Models. Perceptions of relative risk were associated as expected with smoking onset and smoking cessation, whereas perceptions of absolute risk and attributable risk were not. Additionally, the relation of relative risk with smoking status was stronger among people who held their risk perceptions with more certainty. Most current smokers, former smokers, and never-smokers considerably underestimated the relative risk of smoking. If, as this paper suggests, people naturally think about the health consequences of smoking in terms of relative risk, smoking rates might be reduced if public understanding of the relative risks of smoking were more accurate and people held those beliefs with more confidence.

Bluebirds perceive prey switching by Cooper’s hawks across an urban gradient and adjust reproductive effort

ABSTRACTUrban-adapting carnivorous predators such as the Cooper’s hawk appear to be adjusting their diet in urban areas to mostly include larger-bodied adult birds rather than nest contents, compared to Cooper’s hawks in natural areas. If adult prey in urban areas are relatively more threatened by predation relative to their offspring and non-urban adults, then life-history theory predicts contrasting shifts in urban vs. non-urban reproductive behavior and effort. We tested whether urban and non-urban Eastern bluebirds exhibited contrasting reproductive effort consistent with shifts in the relative risk perception of adult vs. nest predation. At urban sites, Eastern bluebirds using nest boxes exposed to broadcasts of Cooper’s hawk vocalizations exhibited enhanced reproductive parameters compared to controls, whereas the opposite trend occurred in box-nesting bluebirds at non-urban sites. As predicted by theory, given prey life-stage switching by a dominant predator, increased perception of predation risk from hawks led to opposing reproductive strategies in urban vs. non-urban habitats. Results align with increasing evidence that urban predation pressures, prey risk perception, and reproductive investment patterns are distinct from those of natural habitats.

Where's Your Phone? A Survey of Where Women Aged 15-40 Carry Their Smartphone and Related Risk Perception: A Survey and Pilot Study.

Smartphones are now owned by most young adults in many countries. Installed applications regularly update while the phone is in standby. If it is kept near the body, this can lead to considerably higher exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation than occurred without internet access. Very little is known about current smartphone carrying habits of young women. This survey used an online questionnaire to ask about smartphone location under several circumstances to inform the power calculation for a women’s health study. They were also asked about risk perceptions. Data was analysed using Pearson chi square. Three age categories were made: 15–20, 21–30, 31–40. Smartphones were generally kept on standby (96% by day, 83% at night). Of all participants, in the last week the most common locations of the phone when not in use or during passive use was off-body (86%), in the hand (58%), a skirt/trouser pocket (57%), or against the breast (15%). Pocket and near-the-breast storage were significant by age (χ215.04, p = 0.001 and χ210.96, p = 0.04, respectively), both positively influenced by the youngest group. The same influence lay in the association between holding the phone (χ211.082, p = 0.004) and pocket-storage (χ219.971, p<0.001) during passive use. For calls, 36.5% solely used the phone against the head. More than half kept the phone 20–50 cms from their head at night (53%), while 13% kept it closer than 20 cms. Many (36%) thought RF-EMR exposure was related to health problems while 16% did not. There was no relationship between thinking RF-EMR exposure causes health problems in general and carrying the phone against the upper or lower body (p = 0.69 and p = 0.212, respectively). However, calls with the phone against the head were positively related to perception of health risk (χ2 6.695, p = 0.035). Our findings can be used in the power calculation for a case-control study.

Discourses, risk perceptions and the “green” profile of the New Zealand salmon farming industry

The New Zealand salmon farming industry is building its salmon farming brand on a green image of a clean industry operating in pristine environments and thus producing a high-quality premium product. The paper pursues the discursive dynamics behind this green profile by investigating how different stakeholders reveal industry related risk perceptions in claims and narratives. Completing this it is demonstrated that the risk perceptions are strongly linked to an environmental discourse, but also that the particular risk society behind this is set under pressure by current ambitions of industrial expansion

How are lung cancer risk perceptions and cigarette smoking related?-testing an accuracy hypothesis.

Subjective risk perception is an important theoretical construct in the field of cancer prevention and control. Although the relationship between subjective risk perception and health behaviors has been widely studied in many health contexts, the causalities and associations between the risk perception of developing lung cancer and cigarette smoking have been inconsistently reported among studies. Such inconsistency may be from discrepancies between study designs (cross-sectional versus longitudinal designs) and the three hypotheses (i.e., the behavior motivation hypothesis, the risk reappraisals hypothesis, and the accuracy hypothesis) testing different underlying associations between risk perception and cigarette-smoking behaviors. To clarify this issue, as an initial step, we examined the association between absolute and relative risk perceptions of developing lung cancer and cigarette-smoking behaviors among a large, national representative sample of 1,680 U.S. adults by testing an accuracy hypothesis (i.e., people who smoke accurately perceived a higher risk of developing lung cancer). Data from the U.S. Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) were analyzed using logistic regression and multivariate linear regression to examine the associations between risk perception and cigarette-smoking behaviors among 1,680 U.S. adults. Findings from this cross-sectional survey suggest that absolute and relative risk perceptions were positively and significantly correlated with having smoked >100 cigarettes during lifetime and the frequency of cigarette smoking. Only absolute risk perception was significantly associated with the number of cigarettes smoked per day among current smokers. Because both absolute and relative risk perceptions are positively related to most cigarette-smoking behaviors, this study supports the accuracy hypothesis. Moreover, absolute risk perception might be a more sensitive measurement than relative risk perception for perceived lung cancer risk. Longitudinal research is needed in the future to investigate other types of risk perception-risk behavior hypotheses-the behavior motivation and the risk reappraisals hypotheses-among nationally representative samples to further examine the causations between risk perception of obtaining lung cancer and smoking behaviors.

Safe on My Phone? Same-Sex Attracted Young People’s Negotiations of Intimacy, Visibility, and Risk on Digital Hook-Up Apps

This article draws on focus group interviews with same-sex attracted Australian men and women aged 18-29, to reflect on their accounts of the perceived risks and opportunities offered by hook-up apps such as Grindr, Blendr, and Hornet. Until recently, scholarly accounts of same-sex attracted men hooking up online have primarily focused on measuring the safety of sexual encounters in relation to HIV and “risky” sexual practices. This article extends previous health-related studies by considering the ways that the exchange of sexually explicit digital self-portraits (or selfies) feature within digital sexual negotiations and also exploring same-sex attracted women’s perceptions of safety and risk in relation to dating and hook-up apps and websites. It draws on recent scholarship on Grindr and other geo-locative hook-up apps to explore the material role that mobile phones and apps play in establishing a sense of safety, intimacy, and/or risk within flirtations and sexual interactions and the ways that young people’s “off-label” (or non-sexual) uses of hook-up apps might facilitate (and diminish) their sense of queer identity and visibility.

‘The germs are not harmful’: health risk perceptions among consumers of peri-urban grown vegetables in Kumasi, Ghana

Consumption of peri-urban grown vegetables has raised public health concerns due to potential risks of contamination from pathogens, pesticides and heavy metals. Understanding how the public perceives of risk is key in managing the population at risk of consuming contaminated vegetables. However, health risk perceptions research of consumers has largely been given little attention. Using both quantitative and qualitative research techniques, and drawing on risk perception theory, this study examined consumers’ health risk perceptions in relation to urban vegetable consumption in the Oforikrom sub-metropolitan area of the Kumasi Metropolis in Ghana. Results suggest that heath risk perceptions of consumers of urban-grown vegetables is generally low, an indication that consumers’ perceptions have not changed a decade after similar results were reported in Ghana. Consumers’ interpretation of the quality of vegetables and associated health risks deviates from scientific health risk assessments which, does not translate into desired risk mitigation behaviour. Continuous public education on potential health risks of consuming these vegetables and appropriate health risk mitigation measures could be vital in reducing the population at risk.

Risk perception of Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields among INMA-Gipuzkoa birth cohort participants

Introduction Despite evidence of health impact of environmental pollution on vulnerable population, there is limited knowledge of how the population perceives the risk. This study identifies risk perception in relation to radiofrequency (RF) reported by the participants of INMA-Gipuzkoa birth cohort and analyzes the association between perception, sociodemographic variables and radiofrequency (RF) exposure levels in their houses. Methods Data from 102 pregnant women recruited between 2006 and 2008 is analyzed. Women fulfilled a questionnaire regarding risk perception during pregnancy. They had to choose 5 environmental problems in their residence area among a list of 10 issues (air and water pollution, noise, proximity to mobile phone base stations and radio transmitters and to power lines, etc.). Information on sociodemographic variables (country of origin, age, study level, social class, and residence area) was also gathered. When children were 8 years old RF exposure levels were measured in their houses and mothers´ perception on exposure and health effects was collected (1-10 scale). Results During pregnancy 45 % of women included proximity to RF emission sources among 5 problems perceived as highest risk. No differences in risk perception were observed in relation to sociodemographic variables. During RF measuring campaign, 94.9 % of women showed medium-high perception in relation to RF exposure (&gt; score 5) and 88.8 % considered that RF has a medium-high negative effect on health (&gt; score 5). Measured average level was 0.17 V/m, far below European recommendation 1999/519/EC. Conclusions Perception of environmental risk is subjective and is not related to observed exposure levels. Better understanding of the determinants of risk perception by citizens is essential in order to give an answer to that preoccupation.

Middle East respiratory syndrome–related knowledge, preventive behaviours and risk perception among nursing students during outbreak

Aims and objectivesThe aim of this study was to survey nursing students’ Middle East respiratory syndrome–related knowledge, preventive behaviours and risk perception to examine the correlations among the variables during a Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak.BackgroundMiddle East respiratory syndrome is a new viral respiratory illness. Nursing students who engage in clinical practice at hospitals may have been exposed to Middle East respiratory syndrome infection during the Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak.DesignThis study was a descriptive cross‐sectional survey.MethodsParticipants (n = 249) were nursing students in their third or fourth year of the programme who were engaged in clinical practice for eight hours per day at the tertiary hospitals with Middle East respiratory syndrome patients. Knowledge, preventive behaviours and risk perception related to Middle East respiratory syndrome were measured using scales developed through a preliminary survey and validity testing.ResultsThe subjects’ knowledge level of Middle East respiratory syndrome was 84·4%; their practice of preventive behaviours was rated at 44·5%; and their risk perception rating was 2·4 out of 5. Middle East respiratory syndrome–related risk perception was significantly different according to gender and Middle East respiratory syndrome education. Middle East respiratory syndrome–related knowledge was significantly correlated with preventive behaviours and risk perception.ConclusionConsidering the low scores for items regarding knowledge and preventive behaviours, it is necessary to develop effective and systematic publicity and education programmes for nursing students. Enhancing Middle East respiratory syndrome–related knowledge by considering cooperation between hospitals and universities will sharpen nursing students’ risk perception of the disease and effectively increase their preventive behaviours.Relevance to clinical practiceSimilar to other emerging infectious diseases, Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreaks may occur in other countries. The results of this study can be used to develop and apply efficient and feasible Middle East respiratory syndrome education programmes for nursing students during Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreaks.

Prior sleep and perceptions of risk when driving

Fatigue represents a significant driving risk. One predictor of fatigue, and driving impairment, is prior sleep length. However, it is currently unknown how much sleep driver’s perceive as necessary to drive safety. This may be an important contributor to a driver’s decision about whether they are safe to drive. There is also evidence that reduced prior sleep leads to increased risk-taking. The aim of this study was to investigate community perceptions regarding sleep duration and fatigued driving, and to determine if sleep duration influences risk perception in relation to fatigued driving. 1081 participants completed a telephone survey addressing sleep history, fatigued driving, and risk perception. The majority of the sample (62.4 %) thought a minimum of 6–8 h sleep was necessary to drive safely, however a small percentage (5.6 %) felt that less was necessary or reported that they did not know. Women tended to report that individuals need more hours of sleep to drive safely. Younger age and male gender were both associated with an increased likelihood of reporting having driven despite feeling too tired, and male gender alone with being more likely to report falling asleep at the wheel. Reduced sleep duration in the prior 48 h was associated with reports of driving when too tired, and the perception that less sleep was required to drive safely. These findings imply that the Australian public may need guidance about sleep and safe driving, particularly in regards to the potential for sleep to influence risk propensity.

The childhood home accidents: risk perception and behavior

The aim of the study was to assess the frequency and the kind of home injuries among the children and to have information on the sources of risk and hazardous behaviors in the home setting. An anonymous questionnaire was administered to parents. In order to evaluate the risk perception in relation to the home environment, drawings to color were administered to children in kindergarten and to those of the first cycle of elementary school. A questionnaire was administered to older pupils. Statistical analyses were performed using the statistical program EPIINFO. The most risky behaviors showed by about half of parents were to cook lunch and doing other works in the house, cook with children in the kitchen. 28.0% said that sometimes left unattended appliances. Discordant opinions were found on the possibility of having injuries at home, in fact, 39.7% of parents affirmed that their son was victim of a home injury, compared with 64.0% of children. The number of children victims of home injuries was significantly higher among those aged between 6 and 10 years. Our search was in according with the national trend of the types and outcomes of home injuries, and confirms the existence of relationship between low educational level and higher frequency of injuries in childhood. Although prevention was considered an invaluable tool by parents to ensure the child's safety from the earliest years of life in this way, this study highlights the urgent need to take preventive action to develop an adequate safety culture.

Entomological Impact and Current Perceptions of Novaluron and Temephos against the Aedes Aegypti (Skuse) Vector of Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika Arboviruses in a Coastal Town in Ecuador

Objective Two larvicides, temephos (Abate®) and novaluron (Mosquiron®) were compared in a field trial in Colonche, Ecuador against Aedes aegypti (Skuse). Community perceptions of dengue fever along with acceptance of new methods were evaluated. Methods: Homes were inspected for water storage containers and the evaluation of two larvicides was conducted post-application to 189L drums citywide. The city was split in half using the main street to assign treatment areas: the northern part of the city received temephos in 43 drums, while the southern side of the city received novaluron applications in 66 drums. Aedes population density was assessed by eggs counts. Eggs were collected from oviposition traps every 7days for 56 days. A survey was administered to the community to determine dengue related knowledge and risk perception. Results Eggs were reduced from an average of 37 and 15 to 0 at day 7 post-treatment for the temephos and novaluron sites, respectively. Significant reductions were found only at days 7 and 14 for both treatment sites. Most of the respondents thought that protection against mosquito bites was important, however only 50% of them knew about either the locations of larval habitats or source reduction practices. About 16% reported they did not want to use a different larvicide than temephos. Yet, some participants reported concerns about temephos applications. Conclusion Results showed that fewer eggs were collected at pre and post-treatment but were apparently lower in the novaluron site. Both interventions were effective up to 15 days post-application. Short effect could be explained by the lack of knowledge in the community about dengue prevention practices. Interventions need to be tailored to the local ecology and social conditions so they can be effective, thus such should follow the principles of integrated vector management.

Factors Affecting MERS-related Health Behaviors among Male High School Students

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to survey male high school students on their MERS(Middle East Respiratory Syndrome)-related knowledge, risk perception, and health behaviors and to identify the factors affect- ing health behaviors during the MERS outbreak in Korea. Methods: The subjects in this study were 144 students in a male high school. Data were collected through self-reported questionnaires in July, 2015. The collected data were analyzed by ANOVA, Pearson's correlation and multiple regression using SPSS/WIN 21.0. Results: The proportion of correct answers to questions testing MERS-related knowledge was 71.6% among male high school students; their health behaviors were rated at 48.9%; and their risk perception rate was 1.8 out of 4. There was a positive correlation between knowledge, risk perception, and health behaviors. Knowledge and risk perception explained 15.1% of the variance in health behaviors. Conclusion: To improve students' health behaviors, their risk perception and knowledge over MERS should be strengthened. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and implement efficient and feasible MERS education programs for high school students.

Perceptions of Cancer Risk: Differences by Weight Status.

Despite the strong link between obesity and cancer development, individuals are less likely to identify obesity as a risk factor for cancer than family history. Family history of cancer has been documented to influence perceived risk of developing cancer, yet it is unclear if excess weight impacts cancer risk perceptions. The purpose of this study was to examine absolute and relative risk perceptions for cancer by weight status. Cross-sectional data were obtained from the National Cancer Institute's 2011 Health Information National Trends Survey (n = 2585). Demographics, anthropometric data, family history of cancer, health behaviors, and absolute and relative cancer risk perceptions were evaluated. The effect of weight and family history on absolute and relative cancer risk perceptions was analyzed through weighted descriptive and logistic regression analyses. 22.8 and 28.6% of subjects reported that they were very unlikely/unlikely to develop cancer in their lifetime (absolute risk) and when compared to others their age (relative risk), respectively. Findings indicated differences in risk perceptions between those with and without a family history of cancer (p < 0.0001). No significant differences were found between BMI categories for absolute cancer risk perceptions despite stratification by family history. Obese subjects were more likely to have an increased relative risk perception of cancer compared to healthy weight subjects (p = 0.0066); this association remained significant when stratified by family history (p = 0.0161). Educating individuals, especially those who are overweight/obese, about the impact of excess weight on cancer risk may improve risk accuracy and promote cancer risk reduction through weight management.

Pilot Evaluation Study of the Life Skills Program REBOUND

The main aim of the study is pilot evaluation of the life skills program REBOUND in a school context focusing on substance use, risk perception, and knowledge about psychoactive substances ([Formula: see text] = 723 students in five schools and 46 classes, Mage = 14.8, range 14-18) for the total sample and in the subgroups gender, age, and school type. Main goal of the study is collecting evidence for program optimization. A controlled study was carried out with repeated measurement before and after the intervention (4-6 months). Multilevel analyses, ANCOVA, and logistic regression analyses were applied to measure the effects. Overall, significantly lower incidence rates of drunkenness (odds ratio [OR] = .55; p = .033), improved knowledge about psychoactive substances ( p = .006), lower personal ( p = .013) and general tobacco risk perception among users ( p = .002), and lower general tobacco ( p = .018) and cannabis ( p = .000) risk perception in non-users were found in the total intervention group. In subgroups, significantly lower rates for the incidence of drunkenness can be shown for males ( p = .008) and for younger participants ( p = .004). Students at academic high school (German Gymnasium) showed a decrease in 30-day prevalence for alcohol ( p = .017) and cannabis ( p = .014), and they improved in their knowledge about psychoactive substances ( p = .000). In vocational high school classes (German Realschule), there was an increase in the relative alcohol risk perception of the students ( p = .019). REBOUND contributes to a controlled use of alcohol and increases knowledge about psychoactive substances. REBOUND has various effects on the examined subgroups age, gender, and school type: Males, younger students, and students in academic high school benefitted more from the course regarding consumption-related criteria. We suggest a program optimization specific to school form and age, inclusion of a tobacco intervention, and the use of more gender-segregated interventions.