What is the relationship between risk attitudes and ambient temperature? Evidence from a large population-based
Adriana N König1, Michael Laxy2, Annette Peters3
1Munich School of Management and Munich Center of Health Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany; Department Environmental Health, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
Economics and Human Biology
|October 4, 2024
Summary
Ambient temperature slightly increases general risk-taking but does not affect health-related risk attitudes in older adults. Risk attitudes remain largely stable despite temperature fluctuations.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
- Gerontology
Background:
- Ambient temperature influences human behavior and decision-making.
- The specific impact of temperature on risk attitudes remains unclear.
- Understanding these effects is crucial for public health and policy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between ambient temperature changes and risk attitudes in older adults.
- To determine if this association differs between general and health-related risk-taking.
- To examine consistency of findings in vulnerable populations with chronic conditions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the KORA-Fit study, a large population-based cohort of older adults (N=2454).
- Analyzed the statistical relationship between short-term ambient temperature variations and self-reported risk attitudes.
- Subgroup analyses were conducted for individuals with diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.
Main Results:
- A small, statistically significant positive association was found between ambient temperature changes and general willingness to take risks.
- No significant relationship was observed between ambient temperature and health-related risk attitudes.
- Findings were consistent across individuals with and without chronic conditions.
Conclusions:
- Risk attitudes exhibit domain-specific responses to ambient temperature changes.
- General risk-taking shows minor sensitivity to temperature, while health-related risk attitudes do not.
- Older adults' risk attitudes are generally stable concerning ambient temperature fluctuations.
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