title: Life styles, anxiety, expertise: the perception of risk from electromagnetic fields.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study analyzed the effect of expertise, by comparing the opinions of groups of "experts" and "non-experts" on the so-called "classic" risks and on the risks from exposure to electromagnetic fields.
  
  
  METHODS
  A protocol comprising personal history questionnaires, including lifestyle details, STAI-Y, and two rating scales based on the "psychometric paradigm" was administered to 48 people, 22 experts on these risks and 26 non-experts. The findings were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance, exploratory factor, correlational and bivariate regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences emerged between the perceptions of the two groups, though the underlying qualitative dimensions were similar. Bivariate regression analysis showed that both state and trait anxiety exert a statistically significant effect on some risks, both classic and related to electromagnetic fields exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study displayed the role of expertise in risk perception processes, giving indications on the relationships between anxiety and risk perception. On the basis of the available data it is concluded that people prone to anxiety and individual emotional states filter the perception of risk arising from activities, technologies, substances etc. included in the present study.
authors: INAIL Research-Department of Occupational Medicine - ISPESL, Roma, Italy. patrizia.deitinger@ispesl.it
authors: Patrizia
authors: P
authors: Deitinger
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Nardella
authors: Matteo
authors: M
authors: Ronchetti
authors: Michela
authors: M
authors: Bonafede
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Grandi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018876:Environmental Illness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D011361:Professional Competence; D011594:Psychometrics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires