What is the relationship between risk attitudes and ambient temperature? Evidence from a large population-based cohort study
Rising temperatures affect human behavior and risk-taking in several domains. However, it is not yet well understood just how ambient temperature shapes risk attitudes. Using data from the large population-based KORA-Fit study (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg) of older people (N=2454), we identify a statistically significant, but very small, positive association between short-term ambient temperature changes and individuals' general willingness to take risks. Health-related risk attitudes, however, show no significant relationship with temperature. These findings support a domain-specific view of risk attitudes, with results remaining consistent for vulnerable individuals with the chronic conditions diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. Overall, our findings suggest that risk attitudes are somewhat stable towards changes in ambient temperature.
Authors
- Michael Laxy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8775-7417)
- Kathrin Wolf (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4343-201X)
- Adriana König (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8884-3533)
- Daniel Wiesen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4627-1730)
- Alexandra Schneider (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1084-2442)
- Lars Schwettmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0935-6989)
- Annette Peters (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6645-0985)
Institutions
- Helmholtz Zentrum München (DE)
- Technical University of Munich (DE)
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
- Erasmus University Rotterdam (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Economics & Human Biology
- Published
- 2024-09-28
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2024.101436
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.41
Funders
- Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
- Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Helmholtz Zentrum München
- Helmholtz Zentrum München
- Münchner Zentrum für Gesundheitswissenschaften, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München