The aim of this paper is to investigate the factors that differentially influence everyday risk-taking. According to many models of health behaviour one important variable which influences health actions is the health threat itself. That is, those people who take fewer risks when participating in a dangerous activity are doing so primarily because they are more concerned about potential health threats. The authors aim was to explore the relationship between health threat (accident involvement) and risk taking in the context of other factors that might affect behaviour. The measures of risk taking behaviour were speed choice and driving violations. The additional factors that might affect driving were grouped around seven possible factors those being: (1) the thought of being stopped by the police; (2) the mood the driver is in; (3) whether passengers are present or not; (4) the thought of getting from A to B in the shortest time possible; (5) economic factors; (6) thrill-seeking, and (7) concern about accidents. The question was whether any of these additional factors would predict risk taking behaviour better than perceived health risk. The sample was a mixture of university students and members of the public. There was a total of 405 drivers in the sample, with 209 males and 188 females (with 8 of unknown gender). The mean age was 31.4 years, mean mileage was 9340 miles per year and average number of years driving was 12.0. The survey took place between November 1995 and March 1996. The present study shows that drivers are more influenced by accountability factors (such as police enforcement or being late for an appointment), mood changes, self-perceived skill and thrill-seeking objectives than they are about being injured in an accident. (A)
Samenvatting