The different dimensions of risk perception: The role of individual traits and watching TV

Abstract

The goal of this study was to investigate the relation between watching various types of TV programs and risk perception. Because risk perception is a complex phenomenon, we focused also on the role of personal (gender, educational level, personality) and contextual characteristics (living in a large, mid-sized, or small city) in the development of social concerns. A self-reported pen and paper questionnaire was administered to 316 Italian adults. We conducted an exploratory factor analysis to identify different groups of perceived risk causes, which revealed three factors: Violence, Politics and Economy, and Environment. We verified the relations among factors of risk perception, TV genres, and personal dimensions via structural equation modelling. Viewing News and Public Affairs was positively related to all dimensions; Films and TV series were positively related to Violence, and Reality and Variety Shows is not related to any factor of risk perception. Educational level was negatively related to all risk perception factors and to watching Reality and Variety Shows. Neuroticism was positively associated with Violence and Politics and Economy, whereas living in a large city was negatively related to Violence.