Adolescents' risk perceptions in relation to risk behavior with long-term health consequences; antecedents and outcomes: A literature review

There is a need for a systematic literature review focusing on adolescents' risk perceptions in relation to risk behavior with long-term health consequences with delayed onset. The aim of this literature review was to review the results of such empirical studies, and to interpret these results from a general risk psychology perspective. Special focus was on factors influencing adolescents' risk perceptions, and on the risk perceptions - risk behavior relationship. Literature searches were conducted in the PsycInfo, PubMed, and Cinahl databases. In total 51 journal articles were included in the review. Evidence, although inconsistent, was found for age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, close exposure to negative outcome, perceived control, and knowledge, stereotyping and misconceptions as covariates of risk perceptions. Evidence was found both for a negative and a positive association between risk perceptions and risk behavior. The results suggest that the adolescent's risk perception, knowledge, perceived control (response- and self-efficacy) as well as benefits and costs of health behavior must be well balanced. Any agent, such as care providers, aiming at encouraging adolescents to take active responsibility for their long term health, must be able to determine each young person's status regarding these issues concomitantly, in order not to evoke risk denial, exaggerated unrealistic optimism, or impaired mental wellbeing.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2012.04.009
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925753512000963
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09257535
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Larsman, Pernilla
  • Eklof, Mats
  • Torner, Marianne
• Publication Date: 2012-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 1740-1748
• Serial:
  • Safety Science
  • Volume: 50
  • Issue Number: 9
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0925-7535
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09257535

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adolescents; High risk drivers; Public health; Risk taking
• Uncontrolled Terms: Risk perception
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01444501
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 28 2012 8:59AM