Association of Health Risk Perception and Physical Activity among Adolescents

Abstract

The current study was to identify health risk perceptions and perception bias in adolescents. Moreover, the study investigated the relationship of risk perceptions with physical activity. A total of 625 adolescents (314 male and 311 female) were voluntarily participated from the Nowon district, geographically located in northern Seoul. In order to measure health risk perceptions a Korean version of self-other risk judgments profile and leisure time exercise questionnaire were used. Results indicated that the study participants, regardless of gender and age, tend to underestimate their vulnerability to the majority of health risk events. The finding revealed that there were significant differences in perception bias toward to health risks by gender and the physical activity level. Furthermore, it is revealed that risk perceptions are directly associated with physical activity participation. The significance of this study lies in the fact that it made a unique contribution to the existing knowledge in exercise and health psychology on relationship between risk perceptions and physical activity.