Specifying Future Behavior When Assessing Risk Perceptions: Implications for Measurement and Theory

Erika A. Waters, Nicole Ackermann and Courtney S. Wheeler
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Erika A. Waters: Department of Surgery, Division of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, USA
Nicole Ackermann: Department of Surgery, Division of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, USA
Courtney S. Wheeler: Department of Surgery, Division of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, USA

Medical Decision Making, 2019, vol. 39, issue 8, 986-997

Abstract: Background . Many theories assert that high perceived risk motivates health behavior change; the empirical literature shows mixed findings. Purpose . To determine whether, for whom, and under what circumstances specifying a future behavior when assessing perceived risk (i.e., “conditioning†risk perception items on behavior) improves data quality and strengthens the perceived risk-intentions/behavior relationship. Methods . Internet panel participants ( N = 787, 58.8% no college experience, 44.4% racial/ethnic minority, 43.7% men, 67.3% aged 18–49 years, 59.0% nonadherent to physical activity guidelines) answered 8 colon cancer perceived risk items in a within-subjects design. Participants answered 4 types of risk perception items: absolute and comparative perceived likelihood and absolute and comparative feelings of risk. Participants answered each type of item twice: once conditioned on not engaging in physical activity and once unconditioned. Results . Compared to unconditioned items, conditioned items elicited fewer “don’t know†(DK) responses (OR = 0.80; 95% CI, 0.68–0.93), higher risk perceptions ( b = 0.55; 95% CI, 0.49–0.61) and stronger positive correlations with intentions ( z Steiger = 5.46, P

Keywords: health behavior theory; measurement; risk perception; survey methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:medema:v:39:y:2019:i:8:p:986-997

DOI: 10.1177/0272989X19879704

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