Study Results from University of Bologna in the Area of Risk Management Reported (Knowledge, Risk Perceptions, and Xenophobic Attitudes: Evidence…

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Study Results from University of Bologna in the Area of Risk Management Reported (Knowledge, Risk Perceptions, and Xenophobic Attitudes: Evidence from Italy During the Ebola Outbreak)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- Investigators discuss new findings in Risk Management. According to news reporting out of Bologna, Italy, by VerticalNews editors, research stated, "The purposes of the current study were twofold: (1) to investigate affective and cognitive responses and social-contextual factors related to Ebola and their intercorrelations in a developed country without widespread Ebola transmission; and (2) to examine the relationships among risk perception of Ebola, levels of knowledge about Ebola, and (blatant and subtle) prejudice toward African immigrants. Between January 2015 and March 2015, an anonymous cross-sectional survey was conducted among a convenience sample of 486 Italian adults."

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from the University of Bologna, "Results showed that most participants were not particularly concerned about Ebola and did not feel at risk of acquiring the virus. Cognitive dimensions of risk perception of Ebola (i.e., perceived severity of illness, perceived personal impact, perceived coping efficacy, and likelihood of infection), affective response (or worry) to Ebola, and social-contextual factors (i.e., perceived preparedness of institutions, family members' and friends' levels of worry) were interrelated."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "Prejudice toward African immigrants was positively related to risk perception of Ebola and negatively related to levels of knowledge about Ebola even when controlling for sociodemographic variables including political preference."

For more information on this research see: Knowledge, Risk Perceptions, and Xenophobic Attitudes: Evidence from Italy During the Ebola Outbreak. Risk Analysis, 2016;36(10):2000-2010. Risk Analysis can be contacted at: Wiley-Blackwell, 111 River St, Hoboken 07030-5774, NJ, USA. (Wiley-Blackwell - www.wiley.com/; Risk Analysis - onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1539-6924)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting G. Prati, University of Bologna, Dept. of Psychol, Bologna, Italy.

Keywords for this news article include: Bologna, Italy, Europe, Risk Management, Risk and Prevention, University of Bologna.