Gender differences in risk-taking-related personality traits and risk perception: implications for safety training and awareness programs

Abstract

This study aims to examine gender differences among engineering students in terms of risk-taking-related personality traits and risk perception. Thirteen scenarios based on actual fatality cases in the construction industry were used in the analysis. A total of 100 engineering undergraduates (male: 63, female: 37) were interviewed to identify their risk-taking-related personality traits and risk perception. Among ten personality traits, results show that being adventurous was the only personality trait positively correlated with risk-taking behaviour among female respondents. Two personality traits, namely, being adventurous and arrogant, were positively correlated with risk-taking behaviour among male respondents. The personality trait of calm was negatively correlated with risk-taking behaviour among male respondents. In terms of risk perception, females were slightly lower than males. These findings can be used as a reference for designing different safety training and awareness programs for male and female engineers and workers in the construction industry.