Fear appeal effectiveness in antismoking campaigns: do anger and smoking matter?

Although fear appeals are widely used in health campaigns, empirical studies have produced conflicting results regarding their effectiveness. To understand the impact of fear appeal in health campaigns, this study investigates the relationship between fear, anger, and smoking status in the context of an antismoking campaign. Using a survey of 829 people in South Korea, this study tests the three-way interactive model with the PROCESS macro. Results indicate that the effect of fear on attitudes toward the campaign depends on the level of anger, and show that the impact of 'anger-adjusted' additional fear appears only among nonsmokers. Implications for antismoking advertising strategies are discussed.

The effects of antismoking campaigns on nonsmokers in South Korea: perceived threat, attribution, and help-giving.

Notwithstanding their good intentions, health communication campaigns may have inadvertent effects on an unintended audience. To explore the potential unintended consequences of an antismoking campaign on nonsmokers in South Korea, a survey of nonsmokers (N = 599) was conducted. The analysis revealed positive effects of campaign exposure on nonsmokers' perceived threat of smoking, which in turn led them to focus on smokers' personal responsibility over social responsibility. Both perceived threat and attribution of responsibility were related to nonsmokers' attitudes toward giving help to smokers, but in opposite directions. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.

The Effects of a Stigmatizing Anti-Smoking Campaign on Autonomous Vs. Controlled Motivation: The Case of South Korea.

It has been claimed that anti-smoking campaigns contribute to the stigmatization of smokers and that this stigma can have negative consequences. To explore this possibility, a survey of smokers (N = 207) was conducted in the context of the "Give me one lung cancer" campaign in South Korea. A path analysis revealed a positive relationship between campaign exposure and perceived stigma, suggesting that the campaign indeed exacerbated the stigma attached to smokers. Campaign exposure also had a positive effect on both autonomous and controlled motivation, which were partially mediated by perceived threat and perceived stigma. The positive and negative roles of perceived stigma were found: perceived stigma was positively related to controlled motivation and negatively related to autonomous motivation. As a result, the positive indirect effect of campaign exposure on autonomous motivation was diminished by its indirect effect via perceived stigma. The theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.

Exploring Factors Influencing Smokers' Information Seeking for Smoking Cessation.

This study addressed the factors influencing smokers' information seeking pertaining to the health risks of smoking. In particular, this study aimed to extend the risk information seeking and processing model by taking into account the role of autonomous motivations used to stimulate smokers' information-seeking behavior. The results of a Web-based survey indicated that information insufficiency was positively associated with health information-seeking behavior and that negative affective responses were positively associated with information insufficiency and health information-seeking behavior. In addition, autonomous motivations were positively associated with information insufficiency and information-seeking behavior. The results indicated that risk perception was positively related to autonomous motivations and negative affective response. Finally, informational subjective norm was positively related to autonomous motivations and negative affective responses. The implications of this study for future research are discussed.

Exploration of the Independent and Joint Influences of Social Norms and Drinking Motives on Korean College Students' Alcohol Consumption.

Understanding what types of social norms are more or less influential and how they operate with respect to other psychological variables can provide valuable insights into the design of effective social norm campaigns. To this end, this study explores the roles of two types of social norms (injunctive norms and descriptive norms) and two types of drinking motives (social motives and conformity motives) in collegiate drinking behavior in South Korea. A survey of Korean college students (N = 569) revealed significant positive effects of injunctive norms, descriptive norms, and social motives on students' drinking frequency and quantity. Conformity motives were positively related to the frequency of drinking but negatively related to the quantity of drinking. Furthermore, the results revealed significant effects of the interactions between descriptive norms and social motives (on both the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption), such that the positive effect of descriptive norms was more pronounced among individuals with stronger social motives. A similar pattern was observed in the interaction between injunctive norms and conformity motives (on frequency). Theoretical and practical implications of the findings for social norm campaigns seeking to curb drinking among college students are discussed.

Factors Influencing Health-Related Internet Activities and Their Outcomes.

This study explores why people participate in health-related Internet activities and what the potential impacts of such activities are. Specifically, this study examines how trust in health information (i.e., from a physician and from the Internet) determines individuals' health-related Internet activities and whether this use subsequently improves outcomes such as discussion with doctors about online health information and satisfaction with health care. Findings from a Web-based survey in South Korea indicated that trust in health information from doctors decreased communication activities, whereas trust in online health information increased both communication and information activities. Both communication and information activities increased discussions with doctors about online health information, which subsequently led to satisfaction with health care.

Social media use, body image, and psychological well-being: a cross-cultural comparison of Korea and the United States.

This study examined the relationships among social media use for information, self-status seeking and socializing, body image, self-esteem, and psychological well-being, and some cultural effects moderating these relationships. Americans (n = 502) and Koreans (n = 518) completed an online survey. The main findings showed that (a) social media use for information about body image is negatively related to body satisfaction in the United States and Korea, while social media use for self-status seeking regarding body image is positively related to body satisfaction only in Korea; and (b) body satisfaction has direct and indirect positive effects on psychological well-being manifested in similar ways in the United States and Korea. Implications and future research directions are discussed.

Smoking cessation apps for smartphones: content analysis with the self-determination theory.

BACKGROUND: Smartphones are increasingly receiving attention from public health scholars and practitioners as a means to assist individuals' health management. A number of smartphone apps for smoking cessation are also available; however, little effort has been made to evaluate the content and functions of these apps employing a theoretical framework. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to analyze and evaluate the contents of smoking cessation apps available in South Korea employing the self-determination theory (SDT) as a theoretical framework for analysis. This study analyzes the extent to which smoking cessation apps have features that satisfy the basic needs identified in the SDT, which stimulate autonomous motivation. The type of motivational goal content manifested in the apps and how the goal content was framed are also explored. By assessing the features of smoking cessation apps based on the SDT, this study aims to offer direction for improvement for these apps. METHODS: Out of 309 apps identified from the iTunes store and Google Play (excluding 27 duplications), 175 apps were randomly drawn and analyzed. The coding scheme was drafted by the authors based on the SDT and gain/loss framing theory and was further finely tuned through the process of coder training and by establishing intercoder reliability. Once the intercoder reliability was established, the coders divided up the rest of the sample and coded them independently. RESULTS: The analysis revealed that most apps (94.3%, 165/175) had at least one feature that tapped at least 1 of the 3 basic needs. Only 18 of 175 apps (10.3%) addressed all 3 basic needs. For goal content, money (53.7%, 94/175) showed the highest frequency, followed by health (32.0%, 56/175), time (7.4%, 13/175), and appearance (1.1%, 2/175), suggesting that extrinsic goals are more dominantly presented in smoking cessation apps. For the framing of goal content, gain framing appeared more frequently (41.7%, 73/175). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that these smoking cessation apps may not sufficiently stimulate autonomous motivation; a small number of apps addressed all 3 basic needs suggested by the SDT (ie, autonomy, competence, and relatedness). The apps also tended to present extrinsic goal content (primarily in terms of money) over intrinsic ones (ie, health) by primarily adopting gain framing. Implications of these findings for public health practitioners and consumers are discussed.

The Differential Consequences of Fear, Anger, and Depression in Response to COVID-19 in South Korea.

Studies on previous outbreaks of contagious diseases suggest that the impact of the emotions associated with an epidemic can be greater than that of the epidemic in terms of the number of people affected. This study explores the relationships between the three most commonly expressed emotional responses to the COVID-19 pandemic (fear, anger, and depression) and two outcome variables (compliance with the social-distancing policy and the stigmatization of those infected by COVID-19). A large online, public opinion survey was conducted in South Korea (n = 1000) between 4 and 11 June 2020, which was between the first and the second waves of COVID-19. A series of regression analyses suggest that the emotional response was accompanied by differential behavioral and perceptual consequences. Fear was consistently positively related to all indicators of compliance with social-distancing policies (the voluntary practice of social distancing, support for the "routine-life-distancing" policy, and support for stronger social-distancing policies). Anger was positively related to both stigmatization indicators (responsibility attribution and stigmatizing attitude toward people infected with COVID-19). Finally, depression showed negative relationships with support for the "routine-life-distancing" policy and for stronger social-distancing policies but a positive relationship with the voluntary practice of social distancing. By examining whether and how certain types of emotional responses are more or less related to compliance with social distancing and stigmatization, the present study provides practical implications for effective public communication during an epidemic such as COVID-19.

The Relationships among Self-Worth Contingency on Others' Approval, Appearance Comparisons on Facebook, and Adolescent Girls' Body Esteem: A Cross-Cultural Study.

The present study examined the relationship between appearance-related social comparison on social networking services (SNSs) and body esteem in a cross-cultural context (three European countries, i.e., Austria, Belgium, and Spain, versus one Asian country, i.e., South Korea). The role of self-worth contingency on others' approval was considered to be a psychological and cultural factor. Utilizing a large-scale cross-national survey of early and middle adolescents in 2017, the responses of female adolescents (N = 981) were analyzed. The results generally support the findings from previous studies but also reveal cultural differences. Appearance comparison on Facebook negatively influenced girls' body esteem in all European countries, but not in South Korea. Self-worth contingency on others' approval negatively influenced girls' body esteem across all four countries. Finally, a positive relationship between self-worth contingency on others' approval and appearance comparison on Facebook was found in all European countries, but not among Korean girls. These findings suggest the importance of self-worth contingency on others' approval and cultural contexts can be used to study the effects of body image-related SNS use.

Gender and Cultural Differences in the Relationships between Self-Esteem Contingency, Body Talk, and Body Esteem.

This study analyzed the positive and negative body talk of male and female adolescents cross-culturally with an emphasis on the role of appearance-contingent and others' approval-contingent self-worth. A cross-national survey in Austria, Belgium, Spain, and South Korea among 12- to 16-year-olds (982 female and 993 male) found that (1) positive body talk was positively related and negative body talk was negatively related to body esteem; (2) appearance contingency was positively related to negative body talk; (3) appearance contingency increased positive body talk among girls (except Korean girls); and (4) contingency on other's approval increased positive body talk among boys in all four countries. Overall, gender differences were more prominent than cultural differences and positive body talk was instrumental in promoting adolescents' body esteem.

Predictors and the role of attitude toward the message and perceived message quality in gain- and loss-frame antidrug persuasion of adolescents.

This study examines predictors and the role of attitude toward the message and perceived message quality in the gain- and loss-framed antidrug persuasion of adolescents. Identification predicted the perceived effectiveness of gain- but not loss-frame ads, whereas perceived realism contributed to the perceived effectiveness of both frame ads. Positive affect predicted the attitude toward the gain-frame ads, whereas negative affect predicted the perceived quality of the loss-frame ads. Attitude toward the message was a stronger predictor of the effectiveness of gain-frame ads, while perceived message quality but not attitude toward the message was correlated with the effectiveness of loss-frame ads. Discussion focuses on implications for formative evaluation of health communication campaign messages.

Health disparities and direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising: a content analysis of targeted magazine genres, 1992-2002.

Health disparities exist in the United States based on race, gender, and socioeconomic status. One way to alleviate some of the disparities regarding certain diseases or conditions is to increase awareness among populations most affected. Physicians have suggested that direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription drugs could play a role in awareness. Social identity theory suggests that individuals are likely to attend messages if they can identify, often based on race or gender, with people portrayed in the messages. This study analyzed DTCA in 11 years of Black, women's, news, and entertainment magazines to determine whether models in the ads targeted specific populations. Black magazines were more likely to contain ads featuring Black models only than were other genres, which had more DTCA picturing White models only. Health conditions the drugs were intended for varied by genre and over time, with STD drugs appearing primarily in Black magazines, and DTCA for heart disease not published in Black magazines, despite cardiovascular diseases being the No. 1 cause of death for Blacks (and Whites). Women's magazines featured DTCA for a wide variety of drugs, reinforcing their roles as caretakers, with proportionally few ads for women's health. Implications for targeted use of magazine genres as a means of providing health information to specific populations are discussed.