Older individuals are generally assumed to be less risk tolerant compared to others. The purpose
of this research was to test how accurately working adults at different ages in the lifespan estimate
their risk-taking propensity. Differential predictions, using ANOVA and regression analyses, were
assessed. Findings suggest that younger working adults tend to over-estimate their risk tolerance
compared to older working adults. Although those in middle-age were shown to under-estimate
their risk tolerance compared to the youngest working adults, the results were not significant. A
discussion of findings is presented with the proposition that over- and under-estimation of risk
tolerance might help explain the types of risk-taking behaviors engaged in by individuals over
time.
