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.
Abstract:
Rising temperatures affect human behavior and risk-taking in several domains. However, it is not yet well understood just how ambient temperature shapes risk attitudes. Using data from the large population-based KORA-Fit study (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg) of older people (N=2454), we identify a statistically significant, but very small, positive association between short-term ambient temperature changes and individuals' general willingness to take risks. Health-related risk attitudes, however, show no significant relationship with temperature. These findings support a domain-specific view of risk attitudes, with results remaining consistent for vulnerable individuals with the chronic conditions diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. Overall, our findings suggest that risk attitudes are somewhat stable towards changes in ambient temperature.
Related Concept Videos
Factors Affecting Body Temperature
Factors may include:
Relative Risk
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
Requirements for Human Life
Oxygen
Atmospheric air is only about 20 percent oxygen, but that oxygen is a key component of the chemical reactions that keep the body alive, including the reactions that produce ATP. Brain cells are susceptible to a lack of oxygen because they require a...
Regression Toward the Mean
Temperature Measurement Sites
Oral: When assessing oral temperature, the thermometer tip should be placed under the tongue in the posterior sublingual pocket. It offers accurate readings and can be...


