Dangling Carrots and Twisting Arms: Incentivizing COVID-19 Vaccination for Community Benefit.

Using the behavioral economics framework, the current study assessed the effectiveness of compliance gaining techniques and social normative influences to reduce vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccination behavior among college students. A total of 1,283 students responded to a cross-sectional survey assessing the influence of compliance gaining techniques and normative pressures upon vaccine attitudes and behavior. Findings suggest that being female, a person of color, and politically liberal were associated with increased likelihood of vaccination behavior. Likelihood of getting vaccinated was influenced by previous influenza vaccine behavior and parents' vaccination status, suggesting the importance of parental social norms. Compliance gaining techniques may have strengthened attitudes for unvaccinated students but were less successful at motivating actual vaccine behavior.

Content, Exposure, and Effects of Public Discourses about Marijuana: A Systematic Review.

This review presents a comprehensive picture of research studies about marijuana-related content in news, social media, and advertisements. Studies that examined the extent of people's exposure to the messages and its effects were also included. A total of 27 peer-reviewed journal articles and one thesis were located, of which 16 analyzed the content, four contained information about people's exposure to the messages, and ten examined the effects. Over time, news coverage shifted from negative to slightly positive toward marijuana use. Social media and advertisements were overwhelmingly favorable toward marijuana use and legalization by claiming social, romantic, and health benefits of marijuana use while completely downplaying risks. A majority of social media accounts were also run by advocacy groups and industry interests, rather than individuals who were simply sharing opinions or experiences. Furthermore, absence of health authorities among the highly popular social media accounts about marijuana was notable. The news, social media, and advertising messages about marijuana were widely used by the members of public, which in turn generated some demonstrable effects on the audience's marijuana-related perceptions and behaviors. The public and policymakers need to become aware of this information environment for potential marijuana users and take more proactive measures to protect vulnerable populations.

An exploratory evaluation of the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of the mental fitness disordered eating program in schools.

The present study examines the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a tiered professional development disordered eating prevention program. A pretest/posttest quasi-experimental design assessed elementary and junior high school faculty and staff's disordered eating knowledge and attitudes. Findings indicate participants experienced increased awareness of students' susceptibility to and the severity of disordered eating, increased self-efficacy about referring students to appropriate resources, and overall perceived acceptability of the training. Improved knowledge and attitudes suggest faculty and staff are better equipped to identify at-risk individuals at an early stage, increasing the likelihood of recovery from disordered eating behaviors or disordered eating.

"Drunk in Love": The Portrayal of Risk Behavior in Music Lyrics.

The current study investigated the prevalence of multiple risk behaviors in popular music lyrics as well as the contexts within which they occur. We conducted a content analysis of the top 20 Billboard songs from 2009 to 2013 in the genres of rap, country, adult contemporary, rock, R&B/hip-hop, and pop, coding for the presence of alcohol, marijuana, nonmarijuana drugs, and sex as well as the contexts intoxication, binging/addiction, partying/socializing, disregard for consequences, and emotional states. The contexts relationship status and degradation were also coded for when sex was present. Of the 600 songs, 212 mentioned sexual behaviors, which were most frequent in rap and R&B/hip-hop. Alcohol was the next most frequent risk behavior, again with greatest mention in rap and R&B/hip-hop. Alcohol, marijuana, and nonmarijuana drugs were most often associated with positive emotions, and sex was most often described within the context of casual relationships. Alcohol and sex were associated with disregard for consequences most often in 2011, when the "you only live once" motto was most popular. These findings are concerning because exposure to popular music is associated with increased risk behaviors for adolescents and young adults, who are the greatest consumers of music.

Stimulating dialogue: measuring success of the "Smoke Free Horry" campaign.

Smoke Free Horry was an anti-secondhand smoke media campaign that ran in Horry County, South Carolina in 2011 and 2012. The present study assessed the campaign's ability to stimulate interpersonal dialogue about the campaign-specifically its four television public service announcements (PSAs)-as well as about other smoking-related topics, among a sample of 285 Horry County young adults. Survey data suggested talking about anti-smoking PSAs was related to subsequent discussion about smoking-related topics and positive perceptions of the campaign's effectiveness. PSAs using emotional appeals and that discussed the negative health effects of smoking/secondhand smoke were related to the most interpersonal discussions about smoking, secondhand smoking, and smoking bans. Implications for future anti-smoking campaign design are discussed.