Lay Understanding of Synergistic Risk: The Case of Radon and Cigarette Smoking
- 1 June 1998
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Risk Analysis
- Vol. 18 (3), 343-350
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.1998.tb01300.x
Abstract
The combination of radon and smoking produces a synergistic risk of lung cancer. Lay understanding of this risk was examined from the perspectives of mental models theory, the psychometric approach to risk perception, and optimistic bias. As assessed by interview, participants (N = 50) had more extensive mental models for the risks of smoking than for the risks of radon or the combination of radon and smoking; 32% knew little or nothing about radon. Despite reading an informational brochure, their risk-perception ratings of the three hazards showed no perception of the synergy between smoking and radon risk, although the combined hazard was rated as less familiar but more controllable than the average of the single hazards (p < .01). No evidence of optimistic bias for the health consequences of radon, or the combination of radon and smoking was observed. Participants appeared to be combining the single-hazard risks subadditively to arrive at their combined-hazard risk perceptions. Further research on the integration of perceived risks would be beneficial for designing optimal communications about synergistic risk.Keywords
This publication has 19 references indexed in Scilit:
- Elevated blood pressure and personality: A meta-analytic review.Psychological Bulletin, 1996
- Perception of the Combined Effect of Smoking and Alcohol on HealthThe Journal of Social Psychology, 1995
- What Do People Know About Global Climate Change? 1. Mental ModelsRisk Analysis, 1994
- Characterizing Mental Models of Hazardous Processes: A Methodology and an Application to RadonJournal of Social Issues, 1992
- The Active Side of Illness CognitionPublished by Springer Science and Business Media LLC ,1991
- Personal models of diabetes and their relations to self-care activities.Health Psychology, 1990
- Optimistic Biases About Personal RisksScience, 1989
- Taxonomic Analysis of Perceived Risk: Modeling Individual and Group Perceptions Within Homogeneous Hazard DomainsRisk Analysis, 1988
- Perception of RiskScience, 1987
- Facts and Fears: Understanding Perceived RiskPublished by Springer Science and Business Media LLC ,1980