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Comparison of Traffic Accident and Chronic Disease Risk Perceptions
Objective:
To assess whether having a commonly identified risk factor
for certain chronic diseases or accidents predicted higher perceptions
of risk for those health problems. Methods: Survey data from
618 adults in a southeastern metropolitan area were used. Health
status and socio-demographic measures were identified as risk factors
and examined as predictors of risk perceptions. Results:
Older, less healthy adults saw themselves at greater risk for cancer
and heart disease. Younger men did not see themselves at greater
risk for traffic accidents. Selected risk factors for heart disease
and cancer were more important in predicting risk perceptions for
those diseases than selected risk factors for traffic-related injury.
Conclusion: Individuals are less aware of their traffic-accident
risk factors and more aware of their chronic- disease risk factors. |