Publication Abstracts

Age and Risk-Taking in French Naval Crew

Bruno Sicard, M.D., M.S., Elisabeth Jouve, M.S., Hélène Couderc, M.S., and Olivier Blin, M.D., Ph.D.
Aviat Space Environ Med 2001; 72:59-61

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of age in French naval crew on risk-proneness. We tested 130 male navy personnel, age range 19-41 yr, with EVAR, a visual analog scale designed to rate risk-proneness and composed of 24 items distributed among 5 factors: "self control," "danger-seeking " "energy," "impulsiveness," and "invincibility." We observed a significant negative correlation between "energy" and age, whereas the other factors were not influenced by age. Risk-proneness change is limited and should not be a safety issue in the decision-making process if the age of navy crews is going to increase moderately.

Keywords: age, risk, sensation-seeking, decision-making.

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Table of Contents for Volume 72, Number 1 of the ASME journal.