Abstract
This study examined whether perceived risks of heart attack, cancer, and stroke were higher among smokers than nonsmokers; whether smokers were more likely to underestimate these risks; and the demographic correlates of unrealistic risk estimation among smokers. Two thousand seven hundred eight-five patients from 12 North Carolina family practices completed a questionnaire including a health risk appraisal and questions concerning smoking behavior and perceived risks of heart attack, cancer, and stroke. While most smokers accurately perceived their health risks to be greater than nonsmokers', smokers were also more likely to underestimate their risks. This optimistic distortion of risk was associated with age, gender, and education levels. Smokers may not yet understand the magnitude of health risks posed by smoking. These data suggest the need for renewed attention to perceptions of the health risks of smoking. As long as smokers underestimate their risks, they underestimate the imperative to quit.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Avis, N. E., Smith, K. W., and McKinlay, J. B. (1989). Accuracy of perceptions of heart attack risk: What influences perceptions and can they be changed?Am. J. Public Health 79(12): 1608–1612.
Becker, M. H. (ed.) (1974). The health belief model and personal health behavior.Health Educ. Monogr. 2: 324–473.
Gazmarian, J. A., Foxman, B., Tze-Ching Yen, L., Morgenstern, H., and Edington, D. W. (1991). Comparing the predictive accuracy of health risk appraisal: The Centers for Disease Control versus Carter Center program.Am. J. Public Health 81(10): 1296–1301.
Lee, C. (1989). Perceptions of immunity to disease in adult smokers.J. Behav. Med. 12(3): 267–277.
Boney-McCoy, S. B., Gibbons, F. X., Reis, T. J., Gerrard, M., Luus, C. A., and Sufka, A. V. (1992). Perceptions of smoking risk as a function of smoking status.J. Behav. Med. 15(5): 469–488.
Perloff, L. S., and Fetzer, B. K. (1986). Self-other judgments and perceived vulnerability to victimization.J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 50: 502–510.
Weinstein, N. D. (1982). Unrealistic optimism about susceptibility to health problems.J. Behav. Med. 5: 441–460.
Weinstein, N. D. (1983). Reducing unrealistic optimism about illness susceptibility.Health Psychol. 2: 11–20.
Weinstein, N. D. (1984). Why it won't happen to me: Perceptions of risk factors and illness susceptibility.Health Psychol. 3: 431–457.
Weinstein, N. D. (1988). The precaution adoption process.Health Psychol. 7: 355–386.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by Grant HL41886 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Strecher, V.J., Kreuter, M.W. & Kobrin, S.C. Do cigarette smokers have unrealistic perceptions of their heart attack, cancer, and stroke risks?. J Behav Med 18, 45–54 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01857704
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01857704