Arni P, Dragone D, Goette L, Ziebarth NR. Biased health perceptions and risky health behaviors-Theory and evidence.
JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS 2021;
76:102425. [PMID:
33578326 DOI:
10.1016/j.jhealeco.2021.102425]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This paper investigates the role of biased health perceptions as a potential driving force of risky health behaviors. We define absolute and relative health perception biases, illustrate their measurement in surveys and provide evidence on their relevance. Next, we decompose the theoretical effect into its extensive and intensive margin: When the extensive margin dominates, people (wrongly) believe they are healthy enough to "afford" unhealthy behavior. Finally, using three population surveys, we provide robust empirical evidence that respondents who overestimate their health are less likely to exercise and sleep enough, but more likely to eat unhealthily and drink alcohol daily.
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