Conscientiousness, perceived risk, and risk-reduction behaviors: A preliminary study

Participants (N = 343) from an Oregon community completed surveys at baseli ne, 3 months, and 12 months to assess personality, the perceived health ris k of radon in combination with smoking, and changes in smoking behavior. Co nscientiousness predicted instituting a more restrictive household smoking rule (p < .01), and perceived risk predicted reduction in cigarettes smoked per day for men (p < .001). Perceived risk predicted a reduction in the pr oportion of cigarettes smoked in the home for those who had high (p < .05) but not low or moderate levels of Conscientiousness, a dimension in one per sonality model. The results demonstrate the importance of Conscientiousness in the prediction of health behavior, particularly behavior that affects o thers as well as oneself.