Predicting health behaviors with an experimental measure of risk preference

Lisa R. Anderson and Jennifer M. Mellor ()

Journal of Health Economics, 2008, vol. 27, issue 5, pages 1260-1274

Abstract: We conduct a large-scale economics experiment paired with a survey to examine the association between individual risk preference and health-related behaviors among adults aged 18-87 years. Risk preference is measured by the lottery choice experiment designed by Holt and Laury [Holt, C.A., Laury, S.K., 2002. Risk aversion and incentive effects. The American Economic Review 92(5), 1644-1655]. Controlling for subject demographic and economic characteristics, we find that risk aversion is negatively and significantly associated with cigarette smoking, heavy drinking, being overweight or obese, and seat belt non-use. In additional specifications, we find that risk aversion is negatively and significantly associated with the likelihood a subject engaged in any of five risky behaviors and the number of risky behaviors reported.

Date: 2008
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Working Paper: Predicting Health Behaviors with an Experimental Measure of Risk Preference (2007)
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Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:27:y:2008:i:5:p:1260-1274

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