Risk taking from the participant's perspective: the case of driving and accident risk

McKenna, F. P. and Horswill, M. S. (2006) Risk taking from the participant's perspective: the case of driving and accident risk. Health Psychology, 25 (2). pp. 163-170. ISSN 0278-6133 doi: 10.1037/0278-6133.25.2.163

Abstract/Summary

Although perceived health risk plays a prominent role in theories of health behavior, its empirical role in risk taking is less clear. In Study 1 (N = 129), 2 measures of drivers' risk-taking behavior were found to be unrelated to self-estimates of accident concern but to be related to self-ratings of driving skill and the perceived thrill of driving. In Study 2 (N = 405), out of a wide range of potential influences, accident concern had the weakest relationship with risk taking. The authors concluded that although health risk is a key feature in many theories of health behavior and a central focus for researchers and policy makers, it may not be such a prominent factor for those actually taking the risk.