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Communication theory is ideally suited to advance systematic forms of knowledge about workplace safety. The focus of this research is to examine workplace safety using health communication theory and research. A field study using a random sample of production workers (n = 645) in a manufacturing organization was conducted, to investigate individuals' risk perception and efficacy beliefs and to validate the predictions of the risk perception attitude framework. Results were consistent with the theory, as risk and efficacy jointly predicted safety behavior, behavioral intentions, and safety information-seeking intentions. Given a particular level of risk, those with greater efficacy beliefs displayed more positive safety outcomes than those with lower efficacy beliefs. The responsive group (high risk, high efficacy) reported safer outcomes than the avoidant group (high risk, low efficacy) and the proactive group (low risk, high efficacy) reported safer outcomes than the indifferent group (low risk, low efficacy). This theoretical frame provides practical directions as to what shapes the safety behaviors and communication patterns of workers in dangerous jobs and offers insights for safety information-seeking and workplace safety. Keywords: Occupational Safety; Information-Seeking; Risk; Efficacy; Health Communication

A substantial amount of research has examined risk taking and sensation seeking in sport, including "extreme" sports (Breivik, 1996; Levenson, 1990; Robinson, 1985; Rossi & Cereatti, 1993; Rudestam & Slanger, 1997; Straub, 1982; Yates, 1992; Zuckerman, 1994). The growing sport of expedition-length adventure racing incorporates activities that previous research has determined to be high in risk, such as mountaineering (Breivik, 1996), kayaking, canoeing (Boga, 1988), white water rafting, and mountain biking (Schneider, 2001). Though Schneider (2001) found that adventure racers score among the highest sensation seekers, very little is known about the experiences of risk taking and sensation seeking among elite level adventure racers. Kay and Laberge (2002) qualitatively examined how adventure racers assign levels of authenticity to different events, including the popular Eco-Challenge event, but their focus was not on the psychological aspects of adventure racing. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine the social and psychological phenomenon of risk in adventure racing. In-depth interviews were conducted with ten world-class Eco-Challenge participants. Following inductive analysis (CRUZ, Salmela, Baria, & Russell, 1993) five general categories emerged, including: 1) risk socialization, 2) the space of risk, 3) mediators of risk, 4) negotiating/coping with risk, and 5) sensations. These themes are discussed at length, and connected to previous research on risk-taking and sport. Finally, suggestions for future research on risk and adventure racing are proposed., A substantial amount of research has addressed risk taking and sensation seeking in sport (Bernstein, 1996; Breivik, 1996; Johnsgard & Ogilvie, 1975; Levenson, 1990; Robinson, 1985; Rossi & Cereatti, 1993; [...]

This study (a nationally representative telephone survey; n = 406) examines how attention to accident and crime stories among adolescents predicts judgments regarding alcohol-related risks, and how effects of 2 relevant individual difference variables--sensation seeking and negative 1st- or 2nd-hand personal experiences with alcohol risks--are mediated by attention. Results indicate, after controlling for a variety of demographic and behavioral variables, that attention to accident and crime news predicts adolescent risk judgments and mediates the influence of sensation seeking and negative experience on such risk judgments. Moreover, exposure to national TV news moderates these indirect effects, and sensation seeking and negative experiences also in turn moderate each others' indirect effects. Thus, the best characterization of the complex relation between individual differences, media, and risk judgments is one of moderated mediation. Keywords: news media effects; adolescents; alcohol; risk perception; policy; mediation; exposure; attention

The present paper thoroughly explores second-best efficient allocations in an insurance economy with adverse selection. We start with a natural extension of the classical model, assuming less than perfect risk perception. We characterize the constraints on efficient redistribution, and we summarize the incidence of incentives on the economy with the notions of weak and strong adverse selection. Finally, we show in what sense improving risk perception enhances welfare. Partage optmal du risque avec antiselection et perception imparfaite du risque. Cet article examine en detail les allocations d'assurance de second-rang dans une economie soumise a l'antiselection. Partant d'une extension naturelle du modele classique, nous supposons une perception imparfaite du risque. Nous caracterisons les contraintes qui s'exercent sur la redistribution des richesses et nous resumons les differentes possibilites grace aux notions d'antiselection faible et d'antiselection forte. Pour finir, nous montrons en quel sens l'amelioration de la perception du risque ameliore le bien-etre.

Surveys have shown that dentists are reluctant to treat persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, dentists are much more willing to treat patients with infectious hepatitis B virus (HBV). This study shows that the annual cumulative risk of infection from routine treatment of patients whose seropositivity is undisclosed is 57 times greater from HBV than from HIV, and that the risk of dying from HBV infection is 1.7 times greater than the risk of HIV infection, for which mortality is almost certain. (Am J Public Health. 1992;82:587-589)

Due in part to recent tragedies such as the terrorist events of September 11 and the widespread effects of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, there has been a growing body of research examining supply risk and supply disruptions. However, to date, most of these studies have either relied on qualitative tools for better understanding risk, or have created simulations to replicate the effects of these disruptions. Further, most of these studies have focused on specific company practices or the viewpoints from a single country or culture. To address this research gap, the purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the effects of supply disruption occurrence, how supply risk is perceived and managed, and if differences exist between supply management professionals from the USA and Germany. The preliminary findings indicate that some differences in risk perceptions and management do exist between US and German supply management professionals, which may be explained, in part, from cultural orientation and practices.

A research suggests that when people compare their likelihood of experiencing an event with that of the average person, they focus on their own chances of experiencing the event and insufficiently consider the likelihood of the average person experiencing the event. The results show that the tendency to focus on one's own rather event than the average person's likelihood of experiencing an event engendered systematic unrealistic pessimism.

A study was undertaken to assess the correlation between risk behaviours and perceptions of benefit and risk in these behaviours on a research sample of 140 Israeli students. The results indicated that perception of benefit and the use of avoidance coping strategies constitute positive relations in the decision to take risks, with implications for intervention programs aimed at adolescents.

Focus groups are conducted in western New York with Latino anglers, to check the validity of the suggestion, for limited consumption of fish taken from the lakes. The younger Latinos considered consuming sport fish from urban areas highly risky, given their occasional illness experiences following meals of what they thought were polluted fish.

In this study, patients with multiple sclerosis and members of the general community were predominantly risk neutral with respect to health outcomes and risk averse with respect to money. Prosser [...]