| Sumario: | This study examines the influence of perceived social acceptability on engagement in risk talk. This study views risk perception as a socially negotiated phenomenon, where perceptions and discussions of risk are not just personal but also shaped by community norms and shared understandings. If people perceive a risk as widely accepted, they may be less likely to engage in conversation on that risk. We tested this question using linear regression and structural equation modelling (SEM) on multiple recreational risks with varying levels of social acceptance. The results indicate that a higher perceived social risk acceptability is associated with less engagement in risk talk. This relationship appears to operate mainly through risk willingness and risk perception. A small, robust effect remains, however, even when controlling for these factors. The SEM suggests a directional pattern between risk perception, risk talk, and social, informational, and benefit-related factors, consistent with risk perception functioning less as an independent driver and more a conduit for these factors. Illustrating the interplay between social acceptability, risk talk engagement, risk willingness, risk perception, and risk knowledge, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of individual and social dynamics in the context of the social processing and diffusion of risk understandings.
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