Lay beliefs about risk: relation to risk behaviors and to probabilistic risk perceptions

Lay illness risk beliefs are commonly held philosophies about how risk works. These include beliefs that one’s personal illness risk is unknowable and beliefs that thinking about one’s risk can actually increase that risk. Beliefs about risk may impact risk behaviors and thereby subsequent health status. However, limited research examines the relation between lay risk beliefs and health behavior. This paper explores this possible relation. A...