Smoking and risk perception of natural and biological hazards: Challenging risk classification in public health
Understanding how individuals perceive risks of natural and health hazards can improve risk communication. This study aimed to investigate perceptions of natural and biological hazards among smokers and non-smokers, using smoking as a proxy for risk-taking propensity. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Italy and Sweden in August 2021 with representative samples (<i>n</i> = 4,131). Risk perception across seven hazards was measured using Likert scales. Ordinal logistic regression was used to assess associations between smoking and risk perception, stratified by country and adjusted for sociodemographic confounders. Smoking prevalence was higher in Italy (32.7%) than Sweden (8.8%). In Italy, smokers, particularly moderate-heavy smokers, perceived higher hazard risks than non-smokers. No such pattern was found in Sweden. Contrary to the initial hypothesis, smoking was associated with heightened risk perception in Italy. This study challenges traditional categorizations of risk-seeking versus risk-averse individuals, emphasizing the complex interplay of individual behaviors, perceptions, and societal norms.
Authors
- Elena Raffetti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8742-3986)
- Marcus R. Munafò (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4049-993X)
- Giorgio Tiecco (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7366-871X)
- Giuliano Di Baldassarre (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8180-4996)
- Gianmarco Pignocchino (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0513-772X)
- Blanca Paniello-Castillo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3754-6571)
- Jasmine Khouja (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7944-2981)
- Maria Rosaria Galanti
Institutions
- Uppsala University (SE)
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (ES)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- British Heart Foundation (GB)
- University of Bristol (GB)
- Fincons Group (Italy) (IT)
- Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale degli Spedali Civili di Brescia (IT)
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ES)
- Centre of Natural Hazards and Disaster Science (SE)
- University of Brescia (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- iScience
- Published
- 2025-11-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.113962
- Primary Topic
- Risk Perception and Management
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Centres de Recerca de Catalunya
- European Commission
- Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas
- Generalitat de Catalunya
- Karolinska Institutet
- Vetenskapsrådet
- Forskningsrådet om Hälsa, Arbetsliv och Välfärd
- Centrum för naturkatastrofslära, Uppsala Universitet
- Medical Research Council
- Agencia Estatal de Investigación