Brief report: how do adolescents perceive the risks related to cell-phone use?
Besides the social risks of incivility and impoliteness (I-incivility), cell-phone use is classically associated with two types of physical risk: microwave radiation (LIMRadiation) and decreased attention while driving (CPUWDriving). As the literature has showed that adolescents' risky behavior was consistent with their risk perception, we ran a self-report survey to evaluate 1/how French adolescents (n=1129) perceived physical risks related to CPUWDriving, exposure to LIMRadiation, and social risks related to I-incivility; and 2/the factors underlying these risk perceptions. Results showed that adolescents have an acute perception of the risks associated with CPUWDriving and appeared to be concerned, as a whole, with social risks related to I-Incivility. They do not appear particularly concerned by the risks related to LIMRadiation, which may reflect societal confusion about risks still considered as hypothetical and/or based on equivocal evidence. Gender, ethnicity, and age were not predictive for perceived risks. Level of schooling had a positive influence on perceived risks related to CPUWDriving and I-Incivility, and cell-phone ownership had an inverse relationship with perceived risks related to I-Incivility.
Martha
Cécile
C
UPRES EA 3294, Sport, Leisure, Health, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Mediterranean, 163 avenue de Luminy CP 910, 13288 Marseilles cedex 09, France. cecile.martha@staps.univ-mrs.fr <cecile.martha@staps.univ-mrs.fr>
Griffet
Jean
J
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires