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The role of time and risk preferences in adherence to physician advice on health behavior change

Author

Listed:
  • Marjon Pol

    (University of Aberdeen)

  • Deirdre Hennessy

    (Statistics Canada)

  • Braden Manns

    (University of Calgary)

Abstract

Changing physical activity and dietary behavior in chronic disease patients is associated with significant health benefits but is difficult to achieve. An often-used strategy is for the physician or other health professional to encourage behavior changes by providing advice on the health consequences of such behaviors. However, adherence to advice on health behavior change varies across individuals. This paper uses data from a population-based cross-sectional survey of 1849 individuals with chronic disease to explore whether differences in individuals’ time and risk preferences can help explain differences in adherence. Health behaviors are viewed as investments in health capital within the Grossman model. Physician advice plays a role in the model in that it improves the understanding of the future health consequences of investments. It can be hypothesized that the effect of advice on health behavior will depend on an individuals’ time and risk preference. Within the survey, which measured a variety of health-related behaviors and outcomes, including receipt and compliance with advice on dietary and physical activity changes, time preferences were measured using financial planning horizon, and risk preferences were measured through a commonly used question which asked respondents to indicate their willingness to take risks on a ten-point scale. Results suggest that time preferences play a role in adherence to physical activity advice. While time preferences also play a role in adherence to dietary advice, this effect is only apparent for males. Risk preferences do not seem to be associated with adherence. The results suggest that increasing the salience of more immediate benefits of health behavior change may improve adherence.

Suggested Citation

  • Marjon Pol & Deirdre Hennessy & Braden Manns, 2017. "The role of time and risk preferences in adherence to physician advice on health behavior change," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 18(3), pages 373-386, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujhec:v:18:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s10198-016-0800-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10198-016-0800-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    7. Norrgren, Lisa, 2021. "Time Preferences, Illness, and Death," Working Papers in Economics 812, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics, revised 11 Oct 2021.
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    11. Herberholz, Chantal, 2020. "Risk attitude, time preference and health behaviours in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    12. Silvia Angerer & Helena Antonie Baier & Daniela Glätzle-Rützler & Philipp Lergetporer & Thomas Rittmansberger, 2025. "Economic Preferences Predict COVID-19 Vaccination Intentions and Behavior," Munich Papers in Political Economy 37, Munich School of Politics and Public Policy and the School of Management at the Technical University of Munich.
    13. Christina Gravert & Kai Barron & Mette Trier Damgaard & Lisa Norrgren, 2020. "Time Preferences and Medication Adherence: A Field Experiment with Pregnant Women in South Africa," CEBI working paper series 20-29, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics. The Center for Economic Behavior and Inequality (CEBI).
    14. Di Wang & Teng-peng Chen & Zhong-hua Shi, 2023. "The Effect of Individual Preferences on Precautionary Behaviors in Vaccine Taking, Saving, and Physical Activity," Global Journal of Health Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 15(11), pages 22-43, November.
    15. Étienne Dagorn & Martina Dattilo & Matthieu Pourieux, 2022. "Preferences matter! Political Responses to the COVID-19 and Population’s Preferences," Economics Working Paper Archive (University of Rennes & University of Caen) 2022-01, Center for Research in Economics and Management (CREM), University of Rennes, University of Caen and CNRS.
    16. Delphine Boutin & Laurène Petifour & Haris Megzari, 2022. "Instability of preferences due to Covid-19 Crisis and emotions: a natural experiment from urban Burkina Faso," Working Papers hal-03623601, HAL.
    17. Tony Beatton & Carly J. Moores & Dipanwita Sarkar & Jayanta Sarkar & Juliana Silva Goncalves & Helen A. Vidgen, 2021. "Do parental preferences predict engagement in child health programs?," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(11), pages 2686-2700, November.
    18. Huo, Liang'an & Pan, Mengyu & Wei, Yanhui, 2024. "Impact of individual activity on behavior adoption in complex networks: A two-layer generalized SAR model analysis," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    19. Angerer, Silvia & Baier, Helena Antonie & Glätzle-Rützler, Daniela & Lergetporer, Philipp & Rittmannsberger, Thomas, 2024. "Economic Preferences Predict COVID-19 Vaccination Intentions and Behavior," IZA Discussion Papers 17533, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    20. Kai Barron & Mette Trier Damgaard & Christina Gravert & Lisa Norrgren, 2022. "Time Preferences and Medication Adherence: Evidence from Pregnant Women in South Africa," CESifo Working Paper Series 9988, CESifo.
    21. Delphine BOUTIN & Laurène PETIFOUR & Haris MEGZARI, 2022. "Instability of preferences due to Covid-19 Crisis and emotions: a natural experiment from urban Burkina Faso," Bordeaux Economics Working Papers 2022-05, Bordeaux School of Economics (BSE).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Adherence; Time preference; Risk preference;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior

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