Commonly, risk perception is measured cross-sectionally. Hence, it remains uncertain to what extent risk perception is stable within individuals across time. The current longitudinal health screening study provided personalized risk feedback and enables the analysis of the dynamics and variability of risk perceptions at the individual level.
Participants of the Konstanz Life-Study provided blood samples at a one-year interval (T1, T5). Cholesterol related risk perception (worry) was assessed at seven distinct occasions (N=140): at blood sampling (T1, T5), provision of cholesterol feedback (T2, T6), five weeks post feedback (T3, T7) and six months post feedback (T4). By using an innovative way of visualization, raw scores of risk perception were analyzed at an individual level.
Across time, 16 participants (11.4%) had a stable risk perception. Data showed clear heterogeneity in risk perception with SD ranging from 0 to 2.31. At T1, the majority (88.5%) showed a low risk perception (M=1.45) with low variability (SD=1.06). At T2, after feedback, mean levels and variability accelerated (M=2.68, SD=1.7) and remained increased at T3 (M=2.41, SD=1.43) and T4 (M=2.15, SD=1.36). However, at T5 variability decreased (M=1.87, SD=1.35). At T6, after the second feedback, it increased again (M=2.99, SD=1.7) and remained elevated at T7 (M=2.41, SD=1.43).
The visualization of the data at the individual level clearly shows a high degree of variability and systematic fluctuations of risk perception within and between individuals. Even months after receiving risk feedback, risk perception remained dynamic and diverse.