Psychological Development and Education ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (5): 713-713.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2026.05.10

Previous Articles    

The Mechanism of Risk Perception Influencing Proactive Health Behaviors among Adolescents

WANG Yulong1, WANG Danyun1,2, ZENG Dingning1, LIN Xiuyun3   

  1. 1. Research Center for Mental Health Education of Hunan Province, Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, School of Educational Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081;
    2. School of Sociology, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350;
    3. Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875
  • Published:2026-09-12

PDF (PC)

Abstract: To investigate the relationship between risk perception and adolescents’ proactive health behaviors, Study 1 employed a questionnaire method and constructed a Random-Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model (RI-CLPM) to explore the longitudinal predictive effect of unconditional risk perception on adolescents’ proactive health behaviors. Study 2 adopted an experimental approach to test the immediate impact of conditional risk perception on the intention to engage in proactive health behaviors, as well as the mediating role of fear and the moderating role of coping efficacy. The results indicated that: (1) At the between-person level, adolescents’ unconditional risk perception and proactive health behaviors negatively predicted each other; at the within-person level, changes in proactive health behaviors significantly and negatively predicted changes in unconditional risk perception; (2) Compared to adolescents with low conditional risk perception, those with high conditional risk perception exhibited stronger intentions to engage in proactive health behaviors, with fear playing a fully mediating role; (3) Under conditions of high coping efficacy, adolescents with high conditional risk perception demonstrated even stronger intentions to engage in proactive health behaviors. This study suggests that fostering healthy habits in adolescents should incorporate contextualized risk information to evoke moderate fear and focus on enhancing coping efficacy, thereby facilitating the translation of risk cognition into health behaviors.

Key words: unconditional risk perception, conditional risk perception, proactive health behavior, fear, coping efficacy

CLC Number: 

  • B844
Ajzen, I. (2011). The theory of planned behaviour: Reactions and reflections. Psychology & Health, 26(9), 1113-1127.
Bandura, A., & Walters, R. H. (1963). Social learning and personality development. Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
Bandura, A., Freeman, W. H., & Lightsey, R. (1999). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 13(2), 158-166.
Brewer, N. T., Weinstein, N. D.,Cuite, C. L., & Herrington, J. E. (2004). Risk perceptions and their relation to risk behavior. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 27(2), 125-130.
Cameron, L. D., & Diefenbach, M. A. (2001). Responses to information about psychosocial consequences of genetic testing for breast cancer susceptibility: Influences of cancer worry and risk perception. Journal of Health Psychology, 6(1), 47-59.
Carver, C. S. (2001). Affect and the functional bases of behavior: On the dimensional structure of affective experience.Personality & Social Psychology Review, 5(4), 345-356.
Chaffee, B. W.,Gansky, S. A., Halpern-Felsher, B., Couch, E. T., Essex, G., & Walsh, M. M. (2015). Conditional risk assessment of adolescents’ electronic cigarette perceptions. American Journal of Health Behavior, 39(3), 421-432.
Chen, F. F. (2007). Sensitivity of goodness of fit indexes to lack ofmeasurement invariance. Structural Equation Modeling, 14, 464-504.
Dillard, A. J.,McCaul, K. D., & Klein, W. M. (2006). Unrealistic optimism in smokers: Implications for smoking myth endorsement and self-protective motivation. Journal of Health Communication, 11(Suppl. 1), 93-102.
Dolan, R. J. (2002). Emotion, Cognition, and Behavior.Science, 298(5596), 1191-1194.
Floyd, D. L., Prentice-Dunn, S., & Rogers, R. W. (2000). A Meta-Analysis of Research on Protection Motivation Theory.Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 30(2), 407-429.
Fox, E., Lester, V., Russo, R., Bowles, R. J.,Pichler, A., & Dutton, K. (2000). Facial expressions of emotion: Are angry faces detected more efficiently? Cognition & Emotion, 14(1), 61-92.
Gerard, M., Gibbons, F. X.,& Bushman, B. J. (1996). Does perceived vulnerability to HIV motivate precautionary sexual behavior? Acritical review of the literature. Psychological Bulletin, 119(3), 390-409.
Griffin, R. J., Dunwoody, S. Z., & Yang, J. (2013). Linking Risk Messages toInformation Seeking and Processing. Communication Yearbook, 36(1), 323-362.
Gullone, E. (2000). The development of normal fear: A century of research. Clinical Psychology Review, 20(4), 429-451.
Hamaker, E. L., Kuiper, R. M., & Grasman, R. P. (2015). Acritique of the cross-lagged panel model. Psychological Methods, 20(1), 102-116.
Igartua, J. J., Rodríguez-Contreras, L., Guerrero-Martín, Í., & Honorato-Vicente, A. (2023). “It Happened to Me and It’s Serious”: Conditional indirect effects of infection severity narrated in testimonial tweets on COVID-19 prevention. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(13), 6254.
Lee, Y. J., Lin, S. C., & Chen, C. C. (2016). Climate change risk perception and policy preferences: The role of affect, imagery, and values. Climate Change, 77(1), 45-72.
Lin, J., Yang, F.,Pu, K., Lan, M., Chen, Y., & Yin, K. (2025). Effect of healthy dietary intention-behavior (in) consistency on depression and anxiety in the process of behavior change. Applied Psychology-Health and Well Being, 17(1), e12609. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12609
Little, T. D. (2013).Longitudinal structural equation modeling. Guilford press.
Liu, Y., Duong, H. T., & Nguyen, H. T. (2021). Media exposure and intentions to wear face masks in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak: The mediating role of negative emotions and risk perception. Atlantic Journal of Communication, 30(5), 467-480.
Ma, D., Cheng, K., Ding, P., Wang, P., & Li, H. (2019). Relation of coping style to self-efficacy and health belief in patients with head and neck radiotherapy. Chinese Mental Health Journal, 33(5), 363-365.
Mills, B., Reyna, V. F., & Estrada, S. (2008). Explaining contradictory relations between risk perception and risk taking.Psychological Science, 19(5), 429-433.
Neumark-Sztainer, D., Story, M., Toporoff, E., Cassuto, N., Resnick, M. D., & Blum, R. W. (1996). Psychosocial predictors of binge eating and purging behaviors among adolescents with and without Diabetes Mellitus. Journal of Adolescent Health, 19(4), 289-296.
Pichon, S., de Gelder, B., & Grèzes, J. (2009). Two different faces of threat. Comparing theneural systems for recognizing fear and anger in dynamic body expressions. NeuroImage, 47(4), 1873-1883.
Rice, P. L. (1992). Stress and health (2nd ed.). Thomson Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.
Rimal, R. N. (2001). Longitudinal influences of knowledge and self-efficacy on exercise behavior: Tests of a mutual reinforcement model. Journal of Health Psychology, 6(1), 31-46.
Rimal, R. N., & Real, K. (2003). Perceived risk and efficacy beliefs as motivators of change: Use of the risk perception attitude (RPA) framework to understand health behaviors. Human Communication Research, 29(3), 370-399.
Van-derVelde, F. W., Hooykaas, C., & Van-der Pligt, J. (1996). Conditional versus unconditional risk estimates in models of aids-related risk behaviour. Psychology & Health, 12(2), 87-100.
Wachinger, G., Renn, O., Begg, C., & Kuhlicke C. (2013). The risk perception paradox-implications for governance and communication of natural hazards. Risk Analysis, 33(6), 1049-1065.
Wang, L., Li, X.,Qiu, K., & Wang, D. (2025). Examining the impact of perceived behavioral control and planning on closing the exercise intention-behavior gap: Insights from a meta-analytic structural equation modeling study. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 78, 102822. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.102822
Witte, K. (1992). Putting the fear back into fear appeals: The extended parallel process model.Communication Monographs, 59(4), 329-349.
Xu, T., & Wu, X. (2022). Risk perception, media, and ordinary people’s intention to engage in self-protective behaviors in the early stage of COVID-19 pandemic in China. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 28(5), 1459-1471.
Yıldırım, M., Geçer, E., & Akgü, Ö. (2021). The impacts of vulnerability, perceived risk, and fear on preventive behaviors against COVID-19. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 26(1), 35-43.
Zhang, J., Zhang, Z., Lin, B., Jiang, H., Mei, Y., Li, X., & Ma, L. (2025). Effects of a behavior intervention based on the recurrence risk perception and behavioral decision model for ischemic stroke patients: A randomized controlled trial. Research in Nursing & Health, 48(2), 246-256.
Zhang, X., & Zhou, S. (2019). Clicking health risk messages on social media: Moderated mediation paths through perceived threat, perceived efficacy, and fear arousal. Health Communication, 34(11), 1359-1368.
常博. (2019). 气候变化媒介信息框架对公众风险感知及行为意愿的影响研究(硕士学位论文). 南京大学.
常春. (2005). 健康相关行为. 中国健康教育, 21(09), 662-665.
高燕梅. (2009). 应激情境下研究生应对效能、应对方式与身心健康关系的研究(硕士学位论文). 华中科技大学, 武汉.
龚婉祺, 宋纪松. (2024). 风险感知与信息支持: 媒介接触对老年人健康行为意愿的影响研究. 新闻与传播评论, 77(03), 30-42.
何婷婷, 荣璠, 李书琴, 万宇辉. (2025). 医学生健康危险行为与抑郁症状的关联:一项潜在转变分析. 心理发展与教育, 41(5), 730-739.
胡芳芳, 秦文哲, 徐凌忠. (2024). 体育锻炼对不同学历阶段在校农村大学生自评健康的影响分析. 中国农村卫生事业管理, 44(12), 889-894.
江蒙梦. (2022). 恐惧诉求视域下电子烟的风险沟通效果研究(硕士学位论文). 大连理工大学.
刘伟, 李力, 韩雨莹, 李越超. (2021). 疾病易感知觉对焦虑的影响：确定控制感的中介及社会支持的调节. 中国健康心理学杂志, 29(11), 1688-1693.
刘钰, 李蔚东, 么鸿雁, 刘剑君. (2023). 主动健康研究进展与展望. 中国预防医学杂志, 24(7), 750-752.
孟博, 刘茂, 李清水, 王丽. (2010). 风险感知理论模型及影响因子分析. 中国安全科学学报, 10, 59-66.
齐如燕. (2022). 西安市10~12岁少年儿童锻炼意识与锻炼行为的研究(硕士学位论文). 西安体育学院.
冉娜, 李宇阳. (2022). 青少年个人健康责任意识与健康危险行为的相关性研究. 健康教育与健康促进, 04, 340-344.
杨隽萍, 陈佩佩, 包诗芸. (2019). 认知偏差和自我效能感对创业风险感知的影响——新手和连续创业者的对比分析. 浙江理工大学学报(社会科学版), 42(6), 618-626.
于伟雪. (2023). 大众滑雪运动风险认知对滑雪运动持续参与行为影响的实证研究(硕士学位论文). 首都体育学院, 北京.
周浩, 龙立荣. (2004). 共同方法偏差的统计检验与控制方法. 心理科学进展, 12(6), 945-950.
[1] LIU Caimeng, YUAN Guangzhe, DING Xu, FUNG Hongwang, HUANG Mingyu, LIN Jinqi. Longitudinal Relationship between Anxiety Symptoms and Problematic Smartphone Use among Chinese Junior High School Students: The Serial Mediating Role of Fear of Missing Out and Intolerance of Uncertainty [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(3): 427-435.
[2] ZHANG Ye, ZHANG Shanshan, BAI Dongmei, LIU Zhihong. The Relationship between Campus Interpersonal Exclusion and Adolescents’ Suicidal Ideation: The Role of Fear of Negative Evaluation and Social Anxiety [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2024, 40(4): 563-571.
[3] QUAN Fangying, LEI Xiaofang, LIANG Binqi, WANG Lu, LI Honghan. Fear of Negative Evaluation and Problematic Mobile Phone Use: The Serial Mediating Effect of Social Anxiety and Loneliness [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2024, 40(3): 412-420.
[4] FAN Xianglin, CUI Yingjin. The Relationship between Objectified Body Consciousness and Restrained Eating Behavior among Female College Students: The Mediating Roles of Fear of Negative Appearance Evaluation and Sociocultural Pressure [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2024, 40(1): 122-131.
[5] JIN Xing, LIU Jinghong, MA Yue, YU Zhanyu. A Comparative Study on the Attentional Blink of Body Expression between Deaf and Normal Children [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2023, 39(3): 305-312.
[6] ZHOU Xiao, ZHAO Yiyan, HUANG Lihui, LEI Yi. Neurobehavioral Perspectives on the Developmental of Fear Learning [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2022, 38(2): 295-304.
[7] DING Qian, WANG Zhaoqi, ZHANG Yongxin, ZHOU Zongkui. The More “Gossip”, the More Addicted: The Relationship Between Interpersonal Curiosity and Social Networking Sites Addiction Tendencies in College Students [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2022, 38(1): 118-125.
[8] XIA Xiaotong, Duan Jinyun, Huang Xinyin. FOMO's Influence on Prosocial Behavior [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2021, 37(3): 344-352.
[9] CHU Xiaoyuan, LI Yuan, HUANG Zhihua, LEI Li, YU Mingyan. The Effect of Supervisor-student Relationship on Self-efficacy for Graduate Students: A Moderated Mediation Model [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2021, 37(2): 174-181.
[10] LIU Yapeng, DENG Huihua, LIANG Zongbao, ZHANG Guangzhen, LU Zuhong. The Effect of Emotionality on Preschoolers' Behavioral Problems and Social Competence [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2019, 35(6): 719-728.
[11] PENG Shun, WANG Xia, NIU Gengfeng, ZHANG Hongpo, HU Xiangen. Fear of Negative Evaluation On Social Anxiety: Base On Cognitive Behavioral Model of Social Anxiety Disorder [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2019, 35(1): 121-128.
[12] TONG Yu, WANG Fuxing. Attentional Biases Are Not Always Specific to Fear-relevant Stimuli:Snakes vs Lizards [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2017, 33(5): 524-534.
[13] WU Xinchun, ZHOU Xiao, WU Mengwei, CHEN Jieling, ZHAO Xianzi. The Effect of Traumatic Severity and Posttraumatic Fear on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: The Moderating Role of Social Support [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2016, 32(5): 595-603.
[14] ZHU Ying, LIU Ya-peng, ZHANG Guang-zhen, ZHANG Yin-ping, LIANG Zong-bao, YE Ming, DENG Hui-hua. The Role of Child Affectivity on Parenting Style at Toddlerhood [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2014, 30(6): 577-584.
[15] WU Xin-chun, ZHANG Yu-di, LIN Chong-de, ZANG Wei-wei. The Effect of Disaster Exposure on PTSD of Primary and Secondary Students：Mediating and Moderating Effects [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2013, 29(6): 641-648.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited
  Shared   
  Discussed   
No Suggested Reading articles found!
Copyright 2018 © Editorial office of Psychological Development and Education
Supported by Beijing Magtech Co.Ltd