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Meta-analysis of the relationship between risk perception and health behavior: The example of vaccination.
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Abstract
Risk perceptions are central to many health behavior theories. However, the relationship
between risk perceptions and behavior, muddied by instances of inappropriate assessment
and analysis, often looks weak.
A meta-analysis of eligible studies assessing the bivariate association between adult
vaccination and perceived likelihood, susceptibility, or severity was conducted.
Thirty-four studies met inclusion criteria (N = 15,988). Risk likelihood (pooled r
= .26), susceptibility (pooled r = .24), and severity (pooled r = .16) significantly
predicted vaccination behavior. The risk perception-behavior relationship was larger
for studies that were prospective, had higher quality risk measures, or had unskewed
risk or behavior measures.
The consistent relationships between risk perceptions and behavior, larger than suggested
by prior meta-analyses, suggest that risk perceptions are rightly placed as core concepts
in theories of health behavior.
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