APA Dictionary of Psychology

in epidemiology, the likelihood of a particular outcome occurring in a population during a specific time period. This value differs from a risk ratio (or relative risk) in that a population is considered as a whole rather than being separated into groups on the basis of risk factors for the outcome. For example, in the United States, the annual absolute risk of a cancer diagnosis for all individuals is approximately 0.6%, or 6.0 cases per 1,000 individuals. If this risk was broken down into comparisons of cancer diagnosis rates based on sex, race, ethnicity, or smoking behavior, the quoted numbers would be considered the risk ratio. Absolute risk can be expressed in several ways (e.g., percentage, probability, ratio). Compare comparative risk. See also social comparison theory.