Comparison of traffic accident and chronic disease risk perceptions

Objective: To assess whether having a commonly identified risk factor for c ertain chronic diseases or accidents predicted higher perceptions of risk f or those health problems, Methods: Survey data from 618 adults in a southea stern metropolitan area were used. Health status and socio-demographic meas ures were identified as risk factors and examined as predictors off risk pe rceptions, Results: Older, less healthy adults saw themselves at greater ri sk for cancer and heart disease, Younger men did not see themselves at grea ter risk for traffic accidents, Selected risk factors for heart disease and cancer were more important in predicting risk perceptions far those diseas es than selected risk factors for traffic-related injury, Conclusions: Indi viduals are less aware of their traffic-accident risk factors and more awar e of their chronic-disease risk factors.