scholarly journals COVID-19: the relationship between perceptions of risk and behaviours during lockdown

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Douglas Brown ◽  
Lynne Coventry ◽  
Gillian V Pepper
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Risk ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Perceptions Of Risk ◽  
Extrinsic Mortality ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Threat To Life

Background Understanding COVID-19 risk perceptions and their impact on behaviour can improve the effectiveness of public health strategies in the future. Prior evidence suggests that, when people perceive uncontrollable risks to their health, they are less likely to make efforts to protect their health in those ways which they can control (e.g. through diet, exercise, and limiting alcohol intake). It is therefore important to understand the extent to which the threat of COVID-19 is perceived to be an uncontrollable risk, and to assess whether this perceived risk is associated with differences in health behaviour. MethodsWe surveyed a nationally representative sample of 496 participants, shortly after the peak of the pandemic in the UK. We collected data to assess people’s perceptions of COVID-19-related risk, and how these perceptions were associated with behaviours. We examined self-reported adherence to behaviours recommended by the UK Government and National Health Service to prevent the spread of the virus, as well as more general health behaviours. We predicted that increased perceived extrinsic mortality risk (the portion of a person’s mortality risk which they perceive to be uncontrollable) would disincentivise healthy behaviour. ResultsPerceived threat to life was found to be the most consistent predictor of reported adherence to measures designed to prevent the spread of infection. Perceived extrinsic mortality risk was found to have increased due to the pandemic, and was also associated with lower reported adherence to Government advice on diet and physical activity, as well as smoking. ConclusionsOur findings suggest that promoting a message that highlights threat to life may be effective in raising levels of adherence to measures of infection control, but may also have unintended consequences, leading to a reduction in health-promoting behaviours. We suggest that messages that highlight threat to life should be accompanied by statements of efficacy, and that messages evoking feelings of concern for others may also be effective in promoting compliance with anti-infection measures.

scholarly journals COVID-19: the relationship between perceptions of risk and behaviours during lockdown

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Brown ◽  
Lynne Coventry ◽  
Gillian Pepper
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Mortality Risk ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Extrinsic Mortality ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Threat To Life ◽  
Healthy Behaviour

Abstract Aim Understanding COVID-19 risk perceptions and their impact on behaviour can improve the effectiveness of public health strategies. Prior evidence suggests that, when people perceive uncontrollable risks to their health, they are less likely to engage in healthful behaviour. This article aims to understand the extent to which COVID-19 is perceived as an uncontrollable risk, and to assess whether this perceived risk is associated with health behaviour. Subject and methods We surveyed a nationally representative sample of 496 participants during the first UK lockdown. We assessed perceptions of COVID-19-related risk, self-reported adherence to infection control measures recommended by the UK Government, and general health behaviours. We predicted that increased perceived extrinsic mortality risk (the portion of mortality risk perceived to be uncontrollable) would disincentivise healthy behaviour. Results Perceived threat to life was the most consistent predictor of reported adherence to infection control measures. Perceived extrinsic mortality risk was found to have increased due to the pandemic, and was associated with lower reported adherence to Government advice on diet, physical activity, and smoking. Conclusions Our findings suggest that health messages that highlight threat to life may be effective in increasing adherence to infection control, but may also lead to a reduction in health-promoting behaviours. We suggest that messages that highlight threat to life should be accompanied by statements of efficacy. Further, messages evoking feelings of concern for others may be effective in promoting compliance with anti-infection measures, without the potential for the unwelcome side-effect of discouraging healthy behaviour.

scholarly journals COVID-19 risk perceptions and their associations with related media consumption and personal experiences

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Douglas Brown ◽  
Lynne Coventry ◽  
Gillian V Pepper
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Occupational Class ◽  
Demographic Differences ◽  
Extensive Experience ◽  
Related Risk ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Uk

Background The impacts of COVID-19 are not evenly distributed in society. Understanding the differences in the experiences and perceptions of COVID-19 related risk may help to improve the effectiveness of public health strategies in the future. MethodWe surveyed a nationally representative sample of 496 participants during the strictest period of the UK lockdown. We recorded data to assess people’s experiences during the pandemic, information seeking behaviours, and perceptions of COVID-19 related risk. ResultsWe found that key workers reported greater exposure to COVID-19 and more extensive experience of the virus within their social circles. Those key workers who perceived their personal protective equipment to be more effective felt that the virus was less of a threat to their lives. Trust in COVID-19 information was highest in information from the UK Government and NHS, and lowest in information from social media. We also found that men reported lower levels of perceived threat to life from the virus than women and lower occupational class was associated with higher levels of perceived risk amongst those in employment. ConclusionsOur findings highlight that demographic differences in actual risk from COVID-19 are not always accurately reflected by differences in perceived risk. Key workers who feel that they are insufficiently protected by their PPE experience increased levels of fear, which may lead to negative health behaviours. This highlights the need for employers to ensure that key workers feel they are adequately protected from COVID-19. Our findings highlight some of the inequalities in the distribution of risk across society and discuss demographic differences in perceptions of risk.

scholarly journals Perceived risk of lock-in in the front-end phase of major transportation projects

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantal C. Cantarelli ◽  
David Oglethorpe ◽  
Bert van Wee
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Project Proposal ◽  
Implementation Phase ◽  
Perceptions Of Risk ◽  
Transportation Projects ◽  
Front End ◽  
Mediating Factor ◽  
Lock In

AbstractLock-in is defined as the tendency to continue with an inefficient decision or project proposal. The front-end phase is critical to project success, yet most studies have focused on lock-in in the implementation phase. Moreover, little is known about the way in which decision-makers perceive the risk of lock-in. In this paper we identify determinants of lock-in in the front-end phase and we reveal decision-makers’ perceptions of risk of lock-in. Our findings show that risk attitudes towards lock-in vary with the level of risk aversion. However, this is not sufficiently acute to drive the level of regret needed to avoid lock-in. This implies that decision-makers do not accurately assess the risk of lock-in and as such their risk perceptions are a mediating factor in the formation of lock-in. Based on escalation of commitment, path dependency, and prospect theory, the main contribution lies in providing a more comprehensive understanding of lock-in in the front-end phase.

Perceived Risk of Co-Occurrent Substance Abuse

2014 ◽  
Vol 115 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-27
Author(s):  
James B. Hittner ◽  
Margaret A. Warner
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Strong Negative Correlation ◽  
Perceptions Of Risk

A strong negative correlation between perceptions of risk for co-occurrent substance abuse and the variability associated with those risk perceptions was found in two independent samples.

scholarly journals Effects of a Nicotine Fact Sheet on Perceived Risk of Nicotine and E-Cigarettes and Intentions to Seek Information About and Use E-Cigarettes

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Yang ◽  
Daniel Owusu ◽  
Lucy Popova
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Electronic Cigarettes ◽  
Absolute Risk ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Dual Use ◽  
Fact Sheet ◽  
Related Disease ◽  
Comparative Risk

We examined how a nicotine fact sheet influenced smokers’ beliefs about nicotine and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), a potentially less harmful alternative to conventional cigarettes. In an exploratory online experiment, 756 US adult current and recent former smokers (quit in the past 2 years) were randomized to view a nicotine fact sheet or control messages (bottled water ads). Effects of the nicotine fact sheet on perceived nicotine addictiveness, nicotine risk, comparative risk of e-cigarettes, and dual use intentions were analyzed using log-Poisson regression with robust error. Linear regression analyzed effects on perceived absolute risk and switching and information seeking intentions about e-cigarettes. Compared to control, the nicotine fact sheet doubled the probability of disagreeing that nicotine is the main cause of smoking-related disease (26.2% vs. 12.7%, RR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.51, 2.82, p < 0.001). However, nearly three quarters of participants viewing the nicotine fact sheet still thought that nicotine is the main cause of smoking-related disease. The nicotine fact sheet increased smokers’ intentions to seek information about e-cigarettes (b = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.15, 0.74, p = 0.003). We did not find evidence suggesting unintended consequences of the nicotine fact sheet on smokers’ e-cigarettes risk perceptions or use intentions (e.g., increased dual use intentions or reduced absolute e-cigarette risk perception).

scholarly journals Pre-pregnancy body mass index and breastfeeding initiation, early cessation and longevity: evidence from the first wave of the UK Millennium Cohort Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (12) ◽  
pp. 1124-1131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tammy Campbell ◽  
Nichola Shackleton
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Breastfeeding Initiation ◽  
Millennium Cohort Study ◽  
Pregnancy And Delivery ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Uk Millennium Cohort Study ◽  
The Uk

BackgroundInternational evidence indicates relationships between pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and breastfeeding behaviours. This study aims to assess associations between key points in the breastfeeding trajectory (initiation, early cessation and longevity) and pre-pregnancy BMI in a recent, nationally representative British cohort. It also aims to explore in the British context potential moderation by mothers’ ethnic group.MethodsThe sample comprises 17 113 mothers from the UK Millennium Cohort Study who have information on pre-pregnancy BMI. Associations between pre-pregnancy BMI categories and breastfeeding initiation, early cessation and longevity are tested using logistic regression. Directed acyclic graphics identify appropriate minimal adjustment to block biasing pathways and classify total and direct effects.ResultsAfter adjusting for confounders, there are large differences in breastfeeding early cessation and longevity by pre-pregnancy BMI group. Differences in propensity to initiation are negligible. Having begun breastfeeding, overweight and obese mothers are more likely to cease in the first week and less likely to continue past 4 months. Observed potential mediators within pregnancy and delivery provide little explanation for relationships. Evidence for moderation by ethnicity is scant.ConclusionsThe causal mechanisms underlying relationships between pre-pregnancy overweight, obesity, and breastfeeding behaviours require further research. However, this study suggests pre-pregnancy BMI as one predictive measure for targeting support to women less likely to establish breastfeeding in the early days, and to continue beyond 4 months. The nature of support should carefully be considered and developed, with mind to both intended and potential unintended consequences of intervention given the need for additional investigation into the causes of associations.

scholarly journals PENGARUH KUALITAS PELAYANAN TERHADAP PERSEPSI NILAI NASABAH YANG DIMEDIASI OLEH PERSEPSI RISIKO STUDI PADA NASABAH LPD PERERENAN KABUPATEN BADUNG

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 2652
Author(s):  
Ida bagus Surya Wijaya ◽  
Kastawan Mandala
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Service ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Customer Value ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Perceptions Of Risk ◽  
Analysis Technique

The risks faced by customers when using the services of LPD, with attention to and maintain the quality of the company provided to customers will be added value to the LPD. The purpose of this study to determine the effect of service quality on the perception of customer value mediated by risk perception. This research was conducted at LPD Pererenan Kabupaten Badung. The sample used is 100 customers. The technique of this research is purposive sampling and analysis technique used is path analysis technique. Quality of service has a positive and significant impact on the perception of value. Perceptions of risk have a negative and significant impact on the perception of value, which means that when perceived risk perceptions of customers when using LPD services are high, the perception of customer value on LPD is low. Service quality has a negative and significant impact on risk perception. Perceptions of risk mediate the effect of service quality on the perception of customer value positively and significantly, it proves when the quality of service and perception of customer value is high then customer risk perceptions aat using LPD services low. A good LPD business should be able to maintain the quality of service provided to its customers, in terms of service. LPDs should be able to prioritize the interests of LPD customers in financial services LPD, able to establish good service quality and perception of good customer value.   Keywords: service quality, customer perception, risk perception

scholarly journals Individual and school-class correlates of youth cannabis use in Sweden

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrik Karlsson ◽  
Mats Ekendahl ◽  
Isabella Gripe ◽  
Jonas Raninen
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
School Class ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Class Level ◽  
Class Context ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Individual

Background and aims: The school-class context is a crucial social environment for young people but substance use researchers have largely overlooked potential influences operating at this level. This study explores associations between school-class and individual-level factors and cannabis use in Swedish youth. Data and methods: Data comprised four waves (2012–2015) of the Swedish Council for Information on Alcohol and Other Drugs’ (CAN) nationally representative school surveys among individuals in 9th and 11th grade. For the present analyses, we had data on totally 28,729 individuals from 2377 unique school classes. Multilevel logistic regressions predicted lifetime and 10+ times use of cannabis from both individual-level predictors and school-class-level measures derived from the individual-level variables. Results: There were individual-level associations between most predictor variables and cannabis use. An early debut of tobacco use and binge drinking as well as low cannabis related risk perceptions had strong associations with cannabis use. Conversely, several school-class-level variables had aggregate relationships with cannabis use, most notably the overall level of risk perceptions in the school class. Some of the school-class factors predicted cannabis use over and above the individual-level covariates, suggesting the presence of contextual effects. Surprisingly, while female gender was negatively related with cannabis use at the individual level, a higher proportion of females in the classroom increased the odds for lifetime cannabis use even after controlling for individual and other contextual-level covariates. Conclusions: Youth cannabis use is related to various factors at both the individual and school-class level in Sweden. Truancy and perceived risk related to cannabis use had contextual associations with cannabis use. The positive contextual association between a higher proportion of females in the classroom and lifetime use should be explored further.

scholarly journals Risk Perceptions of Common Technologies

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 1316-1320
Author(s):  
Rachel E. Stuck ◽  
Bruce N. Walker
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Social Risk ◽  
Perceptions Of Risk ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Adoption Research

Perceived risk is an important component of technology acceptance and adoption. Research has explored perceived risk, and its relation to technology acceptance. However, only limited work has considered common technologies, or assessed different types of risk. This study explored perceptions of risk within 5 types (financial, performance, physical, psychological, social) and overall perceived risk, for 23 common technologies. 178 participants rated the technologies across all the types of risk. In general, the technologies were rated as mildly risky for all categories of risk, but ratings were even lower for psychological, physical, and social risk. However, individual technologies varied in their rankings. This study emphasizes the need to understand not just overall perceived risk, but also type of perceived risk. This insight can assist developers and others (e.g., marketers) to understand what types of risk must be mitigated through redesign, training, or other means to promote technology acceptance.

scholarly journals Understanding health behavior changes in response to outbreaks: findings from a longitudinal study of a large epidemic of mosquito-borne disease.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jocelyn Raude ◽  
Kathleen McColl ◽  
Claude Flamand ◽  
Themis Apostolidis
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Preventive Action ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Preventive Actions ◽  
Social Visibility ◽  
Regional Health Authorities ◽  
Protective Behaviours

Rationale. Although greater attention has been recently given to the ecological determinants of health behaviours, we still do not know much about the behavioural changes induced by the spread of infectious diseases. Objective. In this study, we took advantage of a large epidemic of chikungunya, an emerging mosquito-borne disease, in French Guiana to examine the dynamic interaction between risk-related perceptions and behaviours that occurs in response to a disease outbreak. In particular, we tested empirically the assumption that both risk perceptions and health behaviours were elastic with respect to prevalence of chikungunya. Methods. A representative sample of French Guianan (N=434) was interviewed in January 2015 just after the peak of the epidemic, and again 2 months later. Participants were asked about their perceptions of the threat, as well as their engagement in a range of protective behaviours promoted by the regional health authorities to control the spread of the disease. Results. The surveys showed that (1) the frequency of some health behaviours – those related to visible control methods – significantly increased with the subjective and objective prevalence of the disease, (2) perceived risk of infection for oneself tended to decrease considerably over time, and (3) the risk reappraisal hypothesis failed to account for this paradoxical trend in the people’s response to the risk of contracting the disease. Conclusion. These findings suggest that people may fail to adjust their risk perceptions, and to a lesser extent their health protective behaviours, to the course of an epidemic. Notably, the prevalence elasticity of preventive action found in previous studies of behavioural response to infectious diseases differed substantially according to the type of intervention (personal versus environmental methods). This paradoxical trend may be attributed to risk habituation effects, which seem to vary significantly according to the social visibility of the preventive actions.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document