Fear Appeals for Individuals in Different Stages of Change: Intended and Unintended Effects and Implications on Public Health Campaigns

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Author

Hyunyi Cho, Charles T. Salmon

Entry type

article

Abstract

This study represents an initial attempt to examine the intended and unintended effects of fear appeals among individuals in different stages of change. Toward this end, a pilot study investigated the effects of fear appeals promoting skin cancer preventive behavior among college students. After being exposed to fear appeals, individuals who were in the precontemplation stage indicated a greater likelihood of thinking defensively and fatalistically regarding the facts on health risk than those who had intended to engage in or who had previously engaged in preventive behavior. Concurrently, after being exposed to fear appeals, those who were in the precontemplation stage reported less favorable attitudes toward message recommendations, weaker intentions to engage in recommended behavior, and less performance of preventive behavior than those who had contemplated or had previously engaged in preventive behavior. Implications of these results on future public health campaigns are discussed.

Date

2006 – 01

URL

http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a785835457

Journal

Health Communication

Key alpha

Cho

Pages

91-99

Volume

Affiliation

Purdue University

Publication Date

2006-01-00

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@Article{ Cho,
	title = "Fear Appeals for Individuals in Different Stages of Change: Intended and Unintended Effects and Implications on Public Health Campaigns",
	author = "Hyunyi Cho, Charles T. Salmon",
	year = "2006",
	month = "01",
	journal = "Health Communication",
	pages = "91-99",
	volume = "20",
	abstract = "This study represents an initial attempt to examine the intended and unintended effects of fear appeals among individuals in different stages of change. Toward this end, a pilot study investigated the effects of fear appeals promoting skin cancer preventive behavior among college students. After being exposed to fear appeals, individuals who were in the precontemplation stage indicated a greater likelihood of thinking defensively and fatalistically regarding the facts on health risk than those who had intended to engage in or who had previously engaged in preventive behavior. Concurrently, after being exposed to fear appeals, those who were in the precontemplation stage reported less favorable attitudes toward message recommendations, weaker intentions to engage in recommended behavior, and less performance of preventive behavior than those who had contemplated or had previously engaged in preventive behavior. Implications of these results on future public health campaigns are discussed.",
	affiliation = "Purdue University",
	url = "http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a785835457",
}