1
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Li J, Street RL. What Encourages Patients to Recommend Their Doctor After an Online Medical Consultation? The Influence of Patient-Centered Communication, Trust, and Negative Health Information Seeking Experiences. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024:1-12. [PMID: 39044550 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2024.2383801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
The doctor-patient relationship in China has become increasingly tense, with patients lacking trust in doctors. Meanwhile, online healthcare flourished, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study utilized the direct and indirect pathway model of clinician-patient communication to health outcomes and online trust theory to examine the associations between online patient-centered communication (OPCC), benevolence and ability trust in doctors, negative online health information seeking experiences, and willingness to recommend doctors. The findings revealed that benevolence and ability trust mediated the relationship between OPCC and willingness to recommend doctors. Additionally, when participants had a high level of negative online health information seeking experiences, OPCC had a stronger effect on ability trust; meanwhile, the mediation effect of ability trust between the relationship of OPCC and willingness to recommend was stronger. This study also discussed theoretical and practical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxu Li
- Department of Communication and Journalism, Texas A&M University
| | - Richard L Street
- Department of Communication and Journalism, Texas A&M University
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine
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2
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Lee JJ, Kim J, Lee SK. Trends of fear and anger on YouTube during the initial stage of the COVID-19 outbreak in South Korea. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1496. [PMID: 38835010 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19023-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has been the most widespread and threatening health crisis experienced by the Korean society. Faced with an unprecedented threat to survival, society has been gripped by social fear and anger, questioning the culpability of this pandemic. This study explored the correlation between social cognitions and negative emotions and their changes in response to the severe events stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. METHODS The analysis was based on a cognitive-emotional model that links fear and anger to the social causes that trigger them and used discursive content from comments posted on YouTube's COVID-19-related videos. A total of 182,915 comments from 1,200 videos were collected between January and December 2020. We performed data analyses and visualizations using R, Netminer 4.0, and Gephi software and calculated Pearson's correlation coefficients between emotions. RESULTS YouTube videos were analyzed for keywords indicating cognitive assessments of major events related to COVID-19 and keywords indicating negative emotions. Eight topics were identified through topic modeling: causes and risks, perceptions of China, media and information, infection prevention rules, economic activity, school and infection, political leaders, and religion, politics, and infection. The correlation coefficient between fear and anger was 0.462 (p < .001), indicating a moderate linear relationship between the two emotions. Fear was the highest from January to March in the first year of the COVID-19 outbreak, while anger occurred before and after the outbreak, with fluctuations in both emotions during this period. CONCLUSIONS This study confirmed that social cognitions and negative emotions are intertwined in response to major events related to the COVID-19 pandemic, with each emotion varying individually rather than being ambiguously mixed. These findings could aid in developing social cognition-emotion-based public health strategies through education and communication during future pandemic outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Joon Lee
- Sookmyung Research Institute of Humanities, Sookmyung Women's University, 100 Cheongparo 47 gel, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 04310, South Korea
| | - Jongwoo Kim
- BK21Four Program, Department of Sociology, Yonsei University, 3-101, 84 Mapo-daero 11 gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 04133, South Korea
| | - Soo-Kyoung Lee
- Seoul National University, Bigdata Convergence and Open Sharing System 1, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
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3
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Petali JM, Pulster EL, McCarthy C, Pickard HM, Sunderland EM, Bangma J, Carignan CC, Robuck A, Crawford KA, Romano ME, Lohmann R, von Stackelburg K. Considerations and challenges in support of science and communication of fish consumption advisories for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2024. [PMID: 38752651 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Federal, state, tribal, or local entities in the United States issue fish consumption advisories (FCAs) as guidance for safer consumption of locally caught fish containing contaminants. Fish consumption advisories have been developed for commonly detected compounds such as mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls. The existing national guidance does not specifically address the unique challenges associated with bioaccumulation and consumption risk related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). As a result, several states have derived their own PFAS-related consumption guidelines, many of which focus on one frequently detected PFAS, known as perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). However, there can be significant variation between tissue concentrations or trigger concentrations (TCs) of PFOS that support the individual state-issued FCAs. This variation in TCs can create challenges for risk assessors and risk communicators in their efforts to protect public health. The objective of this article is to review existing challenges, knowledge gaps, and needs related to issuing PFAS-related FCAs and to provide key considerations for the development of protective fish consumption guidance. The current state of the science and variability in FCA derivation, considerations for sampling and analytical methodologies, risk management, risk communication, and policy challenges are discussed. How to best address PFAS mixtures in the development of FCAs, in risk assessment, and establishment of effect thresholds remains a major challenge, as well as a source of uncertainty and scrutiny. This includes developments better elucidating toxicity factors, exposures to PFAS mixtures, community fish consumption behaviors, and evolving technology and analytical instrumentation, methods, and the associated detection limits. Given the evolving science and public interests informing PFAS-related FCAs, continued review and revision of FCA approaches and best practices are vital. Nonetheless, consistent, widely applicable, PFAS-specific approaches informing methods, critical concentration thresholds, and priority compounds may assist practitioners in PFAS-related FCA development and possibly reduce variability between states and jurisdictions. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-20. © 2024 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Michael Petali
- Environmental Health Program, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Concord, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Erin L Pulster
- US Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | | | - Heidi M Pickard
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elsie M Sunderland
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jacqueline Bangma
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Courtney C Carignan
- Department Food Science and Human Nutrition, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Anna Robuck
- Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Kathryn A Crawford
- Environmental Studies Programs, Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont, USA
| | - Megan E Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Rainer Lohmann
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Katherine von Stackelburg
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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4
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Yamamoto M, Krishnan A, Golden A, Owen G, Schell LM, Mata O, Holdsworth EA. Correlates of COVID-19 Information Overload and Information Seeking: Evidence from a Community Survey. Am J Health Promot 2024; 38:503-512. [PMID: 38217428 DOI: 10.1177/08901171241227302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To examine the relationships among health literacy, risk perceptions, COVID-19 information overload, health information seeking, and race/ethnicity. DESIGN A cross-sectional non-probability community survey conducted between December 2020 and January 2021. A questionnaire was developed in collaboration with a local minority health task force. SETTING Albany, New York, USA. SAMPLE 331 adults residing in Albany, NY and neighboring areas (80.3% completion rate). MEASURES Multi-item scales were used to measure health literacy, perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, information overload, and health information seeking frequency and types. ANALYSIS We conducted multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS Health literacy (standardized β = -.33, P < .001) and perceived severity (β = -.23, P < .001) were negatively associated with information overload. Information overload was negatively associated with health information seeking frequency (β = -.16, P < .05) and types (β = -.19, P < .01). A further analysis shows several factors, including information overload and race (African Americans), were negatively related to seeking specific types of information. CONCLUSION We find that low health literacy and perceived severity contribute to information overload and that information overload adversely affects health information seeking. Black individuals are less likely to search for certain types of information. The cross-sectional study design limits our ability to determine causality. Future research should employ panel data to determine the directionality of the observed relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Yamamoto
- Department of Communication, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Archana Krishnan
- Department of Communication, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Annis Golden
- Department of Communication, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Gregory Owen
- Task Force Convener, Albany Minority Health Task Forces, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Lawrence M Schell
- Department of Anthropology and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Olivia Mata
- Department of Communication, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA
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5
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Liu Q, Su F, Mu A, Wu X. Understanding Social Media Information Sharing in Individuals with Depression: Insights from the Elaboration Likelihood Model and Schema Activation Theory. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2024; 17:1587-1609. [PMID: 38628982 PMCID: PMC11020237 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s450934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose How individuals engage with social media can significantly impact their psychological well-being. This study examines the impact of social media interactions on mental health, grounded in the frameworks of the Elaboration Likelihood Model and Schema Activation Theory. It aims to uncover behavioral differences in information sharing between the general population and individuals with depression, while also elucidating the psychological mechanisms underlying these disparities. Methods A pre-experiment (N=30) and three experiments (Experiment 1a N=200, Experiment 1b N=180, Experiment 2 N=128) were executed online. These experiments investigated the joint effects of information quality, content valence, self-referential processing, and depression level on the intention to share information. The research design incorporated within-subject and between-subject methods, utilizing SPSS and SPSS Process to conduct independent sample t-tests, two-factor ANOVA analyses, mediation analyses, and moderated mediation analyses to test our hypotheses. Results Information quality and content valence significantly influence sharing intention. In scenarios involving low-quality information, individuals with depression are more inclined to share negative emotional content compared to the general population, and this tendency intensifies with the severity of depression. Moreover, self-referential processing acts as a mediator between emotional content and intention to share, yet this mediation effect weakens as the severity of depression rises. Conclusion Our study highlights the importance of promoting viewpoint diversity and breaking the echo chamber effect in social media to improve the mental health of individuals with depression. To achieve this goal, tailoring emotional content on social media could be a practical starting point for practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Liu
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People’s Republic of China
| | - FeiFei Su
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People’s Republic of China
| | - Aruhan Mu
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiang Wu
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People’s Republic of China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Service Computing, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming, 650221, People’s Republic of China
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6
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Zou X, Chen Q, Evans R. Why do Chinese Youth Seek Cancer Risk Information Online? Evidence from Four Cities. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024; 39:258-269. [PMID: 36593182 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2022.2163113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This study, inspired by the Risk Information Seeking and Processing (RISP) model, examines the mechanisms by which perceived hazard characteristics and the informational subjective norms of Chinese youth, aged from 14 to 44 years old, become associated with their intentions to seek cancer risk information online. A sample of 684 Chinese youths was collected from four cities in Mainland China with results revealing that perceived hazard characteristics and informational subjective norms motivate their online cancer risk information seeking intentions. Specifically, perceived probability, perceived severity, and institutional trust are positively related to negative affect, however the relationship between personal control and negative affect is not significant. Institutional trust and personal control are positively related to positive affect while perceived probability and perceived severity have no significant effect on positive affect. Negative affect and informational subjective norms are positively related to perceived information insufficiency, while the relationship between positive affect and perceived information insufficiency is not significant. Negative affect, positive affect, informational subjective norms, and perceived information insufficiency are all positively related to the online cancer risk information seeking intentions of Chinese youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Zou
- School of Journalism and New Media, Xi'an Jiaotong University
| | - Qiang Chen
- School of Journalism and New Media, Xi'an Jiaotong University
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7
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Jeong JS, Kim SY. Risk Perception and Preventive Behavior During the COVID-19 Pandemic : Testing the Effects of Government Trust and Information Behaviors. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024; 39:376-387. [PMID: 36650123 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2166698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Given the absence of COVID-19 treatments, the best way to control the spread of the virus is to break the chain of infection by increasing public participation in preventive behaviors recommended by health authorities. This study proposes a moderated mediation model of information behaviors (e.g. information seeking and information verification) and trust in government that explores the relationship between risk perception and preventive behaviors regarding COVID-19. Using a survey study in South Korea, we conducted the moderated mediation analysis with latent moderated structural equation modeling (LMS). We found serial mediation effects for risk perception, information behaviors, and preventive behaviors, as people both seek out information and verify that information before adopting preventive behaviors. Additionally, trust in government moderated information behaviors in the relationship between risk perception and preventive behaviors, suggesting that trust in government encourages people to adopt more preventive actions via information seeking and information verification. Further implications are discussed to promote public understanding of the health crisis and public participation in preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Seon Jeong
- Debiasing and Lay Informatics (DaLI) Lab, Center for Applied Social Research, University of Oklahoma
| | - Soo Yun Kim
- Department of Communication, University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley
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8
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Lai CH, Tang T. A Cross-Country Analysis of the Combined Influence of Social Media Use and Perceived Social Media Networks on Pandemic Communicative Responses. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024; 39:793-807. [PMID: 36872881 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2185923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This study examines how social media (SM) use is related to human responses to emerging infectious disease risks in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic via an online survey conducted in the United States and Taiwan. Results showed that SM use was related to different types of communicative responses (information seeking, interpersonal discussion, and rumor correction) directly and indirectly through cognitive and affective responses (risk perception, responsibility attribution, and negative and positive emotions). The indirect relationships between SM use and communicative responses through these cognitive and affective responses were moderated by perceived SM network structures. In particular, the mediating influence of negative emotions on communicative responses was associated with perceived SM network homogeneity, while that of positive emotions was related to perceived SM network centrality. Furthermore, responsibility attribution drove Taiwanese SM users' communicative responses, whereas the interrelated influence of positive emotions and perceived SM network centrality shaped American SM users' communicative responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Hui Lai
- Department of Communication and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
| | - Tang Tang
- School of Media and Journalism, Kent State University
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9
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Charquero-Ballester M, Walter JG, Rybner AS, Nissen IA, Enevoldsen KC, Bechmann A. Emotions on Twitter as crisis imprint in high-trust societies: Do ambient affiliations affect emotional expression during the pandemic? PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296801. [PMID: 38442085 PMCID: PMC10914277 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
During the Covid-19 crisis, citizens turned to Twitter for information seeking, emotional outlet and sense-making of the crisis, creating ad hoc social communities using crisis-specific hashtags. The theory of ambient affiliation posits that the use of hashtags upscales the call to affiliate with the values expressed in the tweet. Given the deep functional tie between values and emotions, hashtag use might further amplify certain emotions. While emotions in crises-hashtagged communities have been previously investigated, the hypothesis of amplification of emotions through hashtag use has not yet been tested. We investigate such effect during the Covid-19 crisis in a scenario of high-trust Nordic societies, focusing on non-hashtagged, crisis hashtagged (e.g., '#Covid-19') and threat hashtagged (e.g., '#misinformation') tweets. To do so we apply XLM-RoBERTa to estimate Anger, Fear, Sadness, Disgust, Joy and Optimism. Our results revealed that crisis-hashtagged (#Covid-19) tweets expressed more negative emotions (Anger, Fear, Disgust and Sadness) and less positive emotions (Optimism and Joy) than non-hashtagged Covid-19 tweets for all countries except Finland. Threat tweets (#misinformation) expressed even more negative emotions (Anger, Fear, Disgust) and less positive emotions (Optimism and Joy) than #Covid-19 tweets, with a particularly large effect for Anger. Our findings provide useful context for previous research on collective emotions during crises, as most Twitter content is not hashtagged, and given the faster spread of emotionally charged content, further support the special focus on specific ad hoc communities for crisis and threat management and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Charquero-Ballester
- Department of Media and Journalism Studies, School of Communication and Culture, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jessica Gabriele Walter
- Department of Media and Journalism Studies, School of Communication and Culture, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Astrid Sletten Rybner
- Department of Media and Journalism Studies, School of Communication and Culture, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ida Anthonj Nissen
- Department of Media and Journalism Studies, School of Communication and Culture, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Anja Bechmann
- Department of Media and Journalism Studies, School of Communication and Culture, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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10
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Volkman JE, Day AM, McManus TG, Hokeness KL, Morse CR. PRISM and Emotions: Understanding the Role of Fear and Hope toward Vaccine Information Seeking Intentions. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2023; 38:2806-2817. [PMID: 36073032 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2022.2119689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Vaccines represent one of the greatest health efforts to help combat diseases, yet they often evoke emotional responses among individuals. These emotional responses can influence an individual's desire to seek information about vaccines. The purpose of this research was to examine these relationships further using the Planned Risk Information Seeking Model (PRISM) and explore the role of emotions, specifically fear and hope, on vaccine-related information seeking intentions. Two separate models were tested using the PRISM model, one for fear and one for hope. Results suggest fear did not have a significant direct effect on vaccine information seeking, while hope had a positive and significant relationship. Interestingly, both attitude toward seeking and perceived current knowledge each had a positive relationship with information seeking intentions in the fear and hope models. Future research should continue to examine the role of specific emotions within the PRISM model to better predict information seeking intentions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie E Volkman
- Center for Health and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Communication, Bryant University
- Division of Health Informatics and Implementation Science, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
| | | | - Tara G McManus
- Department of Communication Studies, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
| | | | - Chris R Morse
- Center for Health and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Communication, Bryant University
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11
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Orom H, Stanar S, Allard NC, Hay JL, Waters EA, Kiviniemi MT, Lewicka M. Reasons people avoid colorectal cancer information: a mixed-methods study. Psychol Health 2023:1-23. [PMID: 37950399 DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2023.2280177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE With screening, colorectal cancer can be detected when treatable, or even prevented. However, approximately one in five people tend to avoid colorectal cancer information, and avoidance is associated with being less likely to have been screened for the disease. Crucial to developing strategies to reduce information avoidance, we sought a comprehensive understanding of reasons people avoid colorectal cancer information. METHODS AND MEASURES In a mixed methods study, we surveyed 200 participants who varied with respect to avoidance and interviewed 15 people who tended to avoid colorectal cancer information (all aged 40-75) about reasons for avoiding. RESULTS In both survey and interviews, primary reasons for information avoidance were: (1) shielding from anxiety and other aversive emotion, (2) perceived information sufficiency and (3) feelings of information overload. Trait anxiety, fear of diagnosis, anticipating negative interactions with healthcare, and negative associations with screening procedures exacerbated avoidance. Participants justified information non-relevance by attributing risk to other people's characteristics such as family history, gastrointestinal symptoms, being male, or living an unhealthy lifestyle. CONCLUSION Novel findings include the triggering influence of trait anxiety and financial constraints on information avoidance. Also, information overload and incorrect understanding of risk factors may exacerbate perceptions of information sufficiency and avoidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Orom
- Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Sanja Stanar
- Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Natasha C Allard
- Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Jennifer L Hay
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Erika A Waters
- School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Public Health Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Marc T Kiviniemi
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, University of Kentucky, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
| | - Malwina Lewicka
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
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12
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Foust JL, Taber JM. Information Avoidance: Past Perspectives and Future Directions. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2023:17456916231197668. [PMID: 37819241 DOI: 10.1177/17456916231197668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
In the present age of unprecedented access to information, it is important to understand how and why people avoid information. Multiple definitions of "information avoidance" exist, and key aspects of these definitions deserve attention, such as distinguishing information avoidance from (lack of) information seeking, considering the intentionality and temporal nature of information avoidance, and considering the personal relevance of the information. In this review, we provide a cross-disciplinary historical account of theories and empirical research on information avoidance and seeking, drawing from research in multiple fields. We provide a framework of antecedents of information avoidance, categorized into beliefs about the information (e.g., risk perceptions), beliefs about oneself (e.g., coping resources), and social and situational factors (e.g., social norms), noting that constructs across categories overlap and are intertwined. We suggest that research is needed on both positive and negative consequences of information avoidance and on interventions to reduce information avoidance (when appropriate). Research is also needed to better understand temporal dynamics of information avoidance and how it manifests in everyday life. Finally, comprehensive theoretical models are needed that differentiate avoidance from seeking. Research on information avoidance is quickly expanding, and the topic will only grow in importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy L Foust
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University
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13
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Bilandzic H, Gall Myrick J. Information Seeking and Avoidance in the COVID-19 Pandemic as a Function of Political Ideology and National Context: A Survey Comparing the US and Germany. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2023:1-14. [PMID: 37798832 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2263220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic sparked a globally heightened need for scientific information. At the same time, the abundance of information led to tendencies of media fatigue and information avoidance. Both information seeking and avoidance are embedded in a specific national context, in which conditions of and measures against the pandemic may differ dramatically. In addition, the pandemic quickly became entangled with political ideology. Using the Risk Information Seeking and Processing Model (RISP) as a theoretical background, we investigate the role of national context and political ideology for information seeking and avoidance in a comparative survey in the U.S. and Germany during the early phase of the pandemic. Results show that the factors predicting information behavior are effective in both countries with only few differences: In both countries, perceived hazard characteristics, information norms and perceived information gathering capacity were related to higher information seeking and lower information avoidance. Ideology too is an important influence: Right-leaning ideology was associated with lower levels of information norms in both countries; but only in the US was right-leaning ideology connected to less perceived hazard characteristics and less negative affective responses. Results are discussed regarding their implications for the RISP model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Bilandzic
- Department of Media, Knowledge, and Communication, University of Augsburg
| | - Jessica Gall Myrick
- Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, Pennsylvania State University
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14
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YANG Y, HU R, GE Y, YIN J. Construction of influencing factors model for public information avoidance behavior in major infectious disease outbreaks based on meta-ethnography. Heliyon 2023; 9:e20240. [PMID: 37809547 PMCID: PMC10560013 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Major infectious disease outbreaks are highly susceptible to diffuse outbreaks due to their sudden and more widespread nature. Compared to previous outbreaks such as the Spanish flu and SARS in China, COVID-19 has greatly affected the health of citizens and the economic development of countries worldwide, and is representative of major infectious disease outbreaks in many ways. Information avoidance, a common information behaviour during major infectious disease outbreaks, can alleviate the stress caused by information overload as a strategy to reduce negative emotions and maintain optimism. However, it can also bias risk perceptions and avoid content of greater value. Therefore, a deeper understanding of public information behaviour, particularly how and why relevant information is circumvented, places a demand on researchers. Methods A meta-ethnographic qualitative research methodology was used, and the seven steps of the methodology were strictly followed, including identifying integration themes, defining the connotations of integration themes, reading original studies, identifying relationships between studies, inter-translation between studies, synthetic translation, and presenting integration results. 26 original studies were integrated in a unified research framework, with a macro perspective that integrates consistent as well as complex and even contradictory findings and identifies dominant factors. Conclusions Identify demographic factors, information literacy, risk perception, cognitive structure, information quality, information sources, external characteristics of information, and environmental characteristics sub-dimensions around the dimensions of 'individual', 'information' and 'environment'. The study also explored the factors under each sub-dimension. The study finally identified three dimensions, nine sub-dimensions and 26 factors, and obtained a more complete theoretical framework to construct a "model of factors influencing public information avoidance behaviour in major infectious disease epidemics", with a view to providing a theoretical basis and practical reference for relevant departments in guiding public information behaviour and health practices in major infectious disease epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqi YANG
- School of Public Administration, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, China
- The Library of Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, Hubei, 445000, China
| | - Rui HU
- The Library of Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, Hubei, 445000, China
| | - Yongqing GE
- The Library of Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, Hubei, 445000, China
| | - Jing YIN
- The Library of Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, Hubei, 445000, China
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15
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Wang W, Atkinson L, Kahlor LA, Jamar P, Lim HS. Avoiding Covid-19 risk information in the United States: The role of attitudes, norms, affect, social dominance orientations, and perceived trustworthiness of scientists. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2023; 43:1145-1161. [PMID: 35790468 PMCID: PMC9349373 DOI: 10.1111/risa.13991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This study seeks guidance from the planned risk information avoidance model to explore drivers of risk information avoidance in the context of COVID-19. Data were collected early during the pandemic. Among our most notable results is that participants who are more oriented toward social dominance and are more skeptical of scientists' credibility have (1) more supportive attitudes toward risk information avoidance and (2) feel social pressure to avoid risk information. The findings of this study highlight how the role of skepticism in science and intergroup ideologies, such as social dominance, can have important implications for how people learn about health-related information, even in times of heightened crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan Wang
- Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public RelationsThe University of Texas at AustinAustinTexasUSA
| | - Lucy Atkinson
- Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public RelationsThe University of Texas at AustinAustinTexasUSA
| | - Lee Ann Kahlor
- Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public RelationsThe University of Texas at AustinAustinTexasUSA
| | - Patrick Jamar
- Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public RelationsThe University of Texas at AustinAustinTexasUSA
| | - Hayoung Sally Lim
- Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public RelationsThe University of Texas at AustinAustinTexasUSA
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16
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Dong X, Yang JZ. PFAS Contamination: Pathway from Communication to Behavioral Outcomes. JOURNAL OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2023; 28:205-217. [PMID: 36974484 DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2023.2193144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACTGuided by the risk information seeking and processing model, this study examines social cognitive variables that motivate individuals to actively seek and process information related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. Results indicate that information insufficiency, affective response, and informational subjective norms are positively related to information seeking and systematic processing, which are positively associated with policy support and intention to adopt risk mitigation behaviors. These findings suggest that when communicating the health risks of PFAS contamination to the general public, cognitive, affective, and normative factors are important initial steps to generate public interest in relevant information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxia Dong
- Department of Communication, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Janet Z Yang
- Department of Communication, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
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17
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Li J. Information Avoidance in the Age of COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis. Inf Process Manag 2022; 60:103163. [PMCID: PMC9647024 DOI: 10.1016/j.ipm.2022.103163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Guided by three major theoretical frameworks, this meta-analysis synthesizes 17 empirical studies (15 articles with 18,297 participants, 13 of them are from non-representative samples) and quantifies the effect sizes of a list of antecedents (e.g., cognitive, affective, and social factors) on information avoidance during the COVID-19 context. Findings indicated that information-related factors including channel belief (r = -.35, p < .01) and information overload (r = .23, p < .01) are more important in determining individual's avoidance behaviors toward COVID-19 information. Factors from the psychosocial aspects, however, had low correlations with information avoidance. While informational subjective norms released a negative correlation (r = -.16, p < .1) which was approaching significant, positive and negative risk responses were not associated with information avoidance. Moderator analysis further revealed that the impacts of several antecedents varied for people with different demographic characteristics (i.e., age, gender, region of origin), and under certain sampling methods. Theoretically, this meta-analysis may help determine the most dominant factors from a larger landscape, thus providing valuable directions to refine frameworks and approaches in health information behaviors. Findings from moderator analysis have also practically inspired certain audience segmentation strategies to tackle occurrence of information avoidance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhui Li
- Corresponding author: Jinhui Li. School of Journalism and Communication, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China 510632
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18
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Kim E, Sarge MA. Modeling Electronic-Cigarette Users' Risk Information Avoidance. JOURNAL OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2022; 27:603-613. [PMID: 36354006 DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2022.2140366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The current study examined e-cigarette users' risk information avoidance (i.e., RIA), which is a significant challenge to e-cigarette risk communication. Applying and extending previous RIA studies and the risk information seeking and processing (RISP) model, this study identified the predictors of e-cigarette users' RIA with a comprehensive model that incorporated new roles for scientific uncertainty and relevant channel beliefs. Responses collected from an online survey were analyzed (N = 593) and support was found for two pathways that explain e-cigarette users' motivation for RIA. One suggests heightened risk perceptions were associated with strong negative affective responses that include fear, anger, sadness, and guilt. These affective responses, in turn, were positively associated with RIA intentions. The second was a direct, positive association between scientific uncertainty and RIA as well as an indirect path mediated by relevant channel beliefs. More specifically, scientific uncertainty was negatively associated with quality perceptions of e-cigarette information making it more likely e-cigarette users would avoid it. Suggestions for how to prevent or mitigate these processes that result in e-cigarette users' maladaptive response of RIA are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene Kim
- The Media School, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Melanie A Sarge
- The Media School, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
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19
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Ambrosini F, Truzoli R, Vismara M, Vitella D, Biolcati R. The effect of cyberchondria on anxiety, depression and quality of life during COVID-19: the mediational role of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and Internet addiction. Heliyon 2022; 8:e09437. [PMID: 35600442 PMCID: PMC9107336 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the global pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), online health information-seeking behaviors have notably increased. Cyberchondria can be a vulnerability factor for the worsening of anxiety-depressive symptoms and quality of life. The current study aims to understand the predictive effect of cyberchondria on health anxiety, anxiety, depression and quality of life considering the mediating effect of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and Internet addiction and the moderating effect of COVID anxiety. 572 Italian participants (66% female; Mean age = 34; SD = 15) took part in a cross-sectional online survey involving CSS-12, MOCQ-R, IAT, SHAI, HADS, WHOQoL-BREF and CAS. Mediation and moderation analyses were conducted. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms and Internet addiction were found to partially mediate the cyberchondria-health anxiety and the cyberchondria-anxiety links and to totally mediate the cyberchondria-depression and the cyberchondria-quality of life links. COVID anxiety was found to moderate the relationship between cyberchondria and anxiety. The findings suggest that compulsivity may have a key role in the explanation of the underlying mechanisms of cyberchondria. Healthcare practitioners should provide additional support for individuals with cyberchondria. As such, cyberchondria is a contributing factor to the exacerbation of anxiety-depressive disorders and may impact on the quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Ambrosini
- Department of Education Studies “Giovanni Maria Bertin”, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberto Truzoli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Clinics Luigi Sacco, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Vismara
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Clinics Luigi Sacco, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan, Italy
- Aldo Ravelli Center for Neurotechnology and Brain Therapeutics, University of Milan, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Biolcati
- Department of Education Studies “Giovanni Maria Bertin”, University of Bologna, Italy
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20
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Lim JS, Zhang J. Cognitive and Affective Routes to the Adoption of Protective Behaviors Against Health Risks of PM2.5 in China. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2022:1-12. [PMID: 35392745 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2022.2061122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The current research examines how risk appraisals of PM2.5 influence Chinese people's behavioral intentions to adopt government-recommended protective behaviors through negative affect. In testing the appraisal-based protective behavior model, this research also takes institutional trust and media sensationalism into account. An online survey is conducted with participants (N = 1,569) randomly drawn from heavily polluted Chinese regions. As predicted, negative affect mediates the effects of perceived susceptibility and perceived severity on individuals' intentions to take preventive measures against the PM2.5 risk. Institutional trust appears to increase people's behavioral intentions. However, media sensationalism decreases people's behavioral intentions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon Soo Lim
- S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University
| | - Jun Zhang
- School of Journalism and Strategic Media, College of Media and Entertainment, Middle Tennessee State University
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